Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the Accord Party spent at least N40 billion during the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Fayose made the allegation during an interview on TVC’s Politics Tonight, while discussing claims surrounding alleged vote-buying and spending by political parties during the election.
The former governor’s comments followed allegations by Afrobeats singer Davido, who claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) spent N110 billion on vote-buying during the election.
Davido, who is a nephew of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, also claimed that the Accord Party did not spend money during the election, arguing that the party relied on the support of Osun voters.
However, Fayose disputed the suggestion that the election was won without significant financial expenditure by the leading political parties.
According to him, both sides deployed substantial financial resources during the contest, and neither party could claim to have secured victory solely through prayers or popular support.
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“Accord Party led the opponents. The money that went to that election from the Accord Party itself cannot be under N40 billion. I stand to be corrected,” Fayose said.
The former governor further alleged that more than N7.5 billion was distributed across local governments and wards shortly before the election.
“Secondly, on Monday, they sent over N7.5 billion to the various local governments. Various wards. The minimum for the wards would be about N35 million in a ward of about seven, eight, nine polling units,” he added.
Fayose did not provide documentary evidence during the interview to substantiate his allegation that the Accord Party spent at least N40 billion on the election.
His claim adds to the growing political controversy surrounding campaign expenditure and alleged vote-buying following the conclusion of the Osun governorship election.
The issue has generated competing claims from political actors and public figures, with accusations of excessive spending being traded among supporters of the major political parties.
Davido had previously accused the APC of spending N110 billion on vote-buying, while defending the Accord Party’s campaign and insisting that the party relied on the electorate.
Fayose’s latest comments, however, challenge that narrative, as he maintained that the election involved substantial financial mobilisation by the leading political forces.
Vote-buying and excessive election spending remain major concerns in Nigeria’s electoral process. Electoral stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of campaign finance regulations and measures to prevent money from determining electoral outcomes.
The competing allegations over spending in Osun are likely to continue generating debate as political parties and stakeholders assess the outcome of the closely contested election.
