Fayose Alleges Accord Party Spent N40 Billion On Osun Election

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has alleged that the Accord Party spent no less than ₦40 billion during the August 15 Osun State governorship election, dismissing claims that the party relied solely on popular support.

Speaking during an interview on TVC’s “Politics Tonight,” Fayose countered recent assertions by Afrobeats singer Davido, who had claimed the All Progressives Congress (APC) expended ₦110 billion on vote-buying while insisting the Accord Party “did not spend a dime” and depended on the will of Osun voters. Davido, a nephew to Governor Ademola Adeleke, made the remarks in a widely circulated social media post.

Fayose rejected the narrative that either leading party prevailed through prayers or grassroots appeal alone. “Accord Party led the opponents. The money that went to that election from the Accord Party itself cannot be under ₦40 billion. I stand to be corrected,” he said.

The former governor provided a breakdown of the alleged expenditure, stating that more than ₦7.5 billion was disbursed to local governments and wards shortly before the poll. “Secondly, on Monday, they sent over ₦7.5 billion to the various local governments. Various wards. The minimum for the wards would be about ₦35 million in a ward of about seven, eight, nine polling units,” he added.

Fayose’s comments underscore the pervasive role of financial inducements in Nigerian electoral contests, where vote-buying allegations routinely accompany major Elections. The Osun governorship race, which saw Governor Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) return to office after a previous tenure, was heavily contested among the PDP, APC, and Accord Party.

Neither the Accord Party nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has publicly responded to Fayose’s specific figures. Davido’s original claims regarding APC spending have also not been independently verified.

The exchange highlights ongoing public debate over campaign finance transparency and the influence of money in determining electoral outcomes. Civil society groups have long called for stricter enforcement of spending limits and real-time disclosure of campaign funds, though compliance remains inconsistent.

As political stakeholders digest the latest allegations, attention may turn to whether anti-graft agencies or electoral bodies will pursue investigations into the cited amounts. For now, the claims remain in the realm of political rhetoric, reflecting the deep-seated skepticism surrounding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.