The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged distribution of cash and campaign materials at a political gathering in Rivers State.
The opposition party accused the ruling party of attempting to secure support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election through financial inducements and material gifts.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The party’s reaction followed the circulation of a video showing the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, distributing bundles of cash and APC-branded wrappers to women at an event in Rivers State.
The footage also showed the minister handing out envelopes bearing photographs of President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, alongside the cash and fabrics carrying the APC logo.
Reacting, Shaibu said the ADC would no longer remain silent over what it described as attempts by the ruling party to use money and gifts to attract political support.
He called on the EFCC and INEC to investigate the incident and other reported cases of financial and material distributions linked to APC political activities.
“Probe APC now,” the party demanded, insisting that no political organisation should be allowed to use money or gifts to influence voters or undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Shaibu argued that the Rivers incident was not isolated, citing reports of luxury vehicles allegedly presented to APC women leaders and the distribution of cash and cooked food through the City Boy Movement associated with the President’s son.
He said the developments suggested that the ruling party was increasingly treating political support as something that could be purchased.
“The pattern is becoming impossible to ignore. From reports of luxury vehicles presented to APC women leaders, to cash and cooked food distributed by the President’s son through the City Boy Movement, and now videos circulating of an APC women leader handing out money and fabrics, the ruling party appears to be treating political support as something that can be bought,” he said.
The ADC spokesman also questioned what he described as unequal enforcement of laws relating to the abuse of the naira.
He argued that while ordinary Nigerians had faced sanctions over alleged naira abuse, similar concerns involving political figures at public gatherings should also attract the attention of law enforcement agencies.
“The same authorities that have pursued ordinary Nigerians over alleged abuse of the Naira must explain why apparent cash distribution by political operatives at campaign events should be treated differently,” Shaibu stated.
He urged the EFCC and INEC to establish whether the reported activities breached electoral or currency regulations and take appropriate action if violations were established.
The ADC also criticised the Tinubu administration over economic hardship, insecurity and rising public debt, arguing that distributing money and gifts at political gatherings would not address the difficulties facing Nigerian households.
Shaibu said millions of Nigerians were struggling to afford food, transportation and other basic necessities, describing the alleged displays of cash and gifts at political events as insensitive to the prevailing economic conditions.
He further questioned the administration’s borrowing activities and demanded accountability over the scale, terms and utilisation of public loans.
The party maintained that political support should be earned through governance rather than financial inducements, insisting that voters should be allowed to make independent choices during the 2027 elections.
“No amount of money can compel Nigerians to endorse a government that has made life harder for them. The people’s votes are not for sale, and no manufactured crowd can substitute for their verdict at the ballot box,” he said.
The ADC consequently called on the two agencies to publicly disclose the steps they would take to investigate the allegations and ensure that electoral and financial regulations were enforced without political bias.
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