By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, Oct. 07, 2026
ABUJA — Chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Buba Galadima, has raised an alarm over an alleged large-scale cash distribution aimed at forcing lawmakers across state assemblies and the National Assembly to relinquish their political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the growing political realignments and early pre-election maneuvering within the country, Galadima alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is actively bribing lawmakers with massive financial payouts and luxury vehicles to step down for favored party candidates.
According to the politician, state House of Assembly members are allegedly being offered ₦50 million each to surrender their party tickets, while members of the House of Representatives are being enticed with ₦200 million alongside brand-new vehicles.
Galadima further claimed that the cash distribution scheme is actively taking place at a high-end hospitality facility in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the protection of state security officers.
”Every member of the House of Assembly who agrees to forfeit his ticket for the APC candidate is currently being given ₦50 million, and members of the House of Representatives are given ₦200 million with a car,” Galadima stated.
”President Tinubu and all his governors are afraid of contest; they want to win unopposed. A lady at the Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, is currently sharing this money, and the DSS is protecting the place.”
Galadima’s accusations come amidst heightened political friction and horse-trading within the Nigerian political landscape.
Allegations of vote buying, delegate inducement, and ticket forfeiture have historically surfaced during party primary seasons in Nigeria, where political actors frequently leverage state resources and party machinery to secure consensus candidates or weaken opposition forces.
The involvement of security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), in political operations has remained a sensitive subject of debate among opposition parties, civil society organizations, and election monitoring bodies.
Independent political analysts note that if proven true, the use of money to enforce non-contested primaries undermines internal party democracy and violates section provisions of the Electoral Act governing campaign finance and party nomination processes.
As of press time, neither the Presidency, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), nor the Department of State Services (DSS) has issued an official statement responding to Galadima’s allegations.