EXCLUSIVE: Tinubu Government Gifts Each Governor Joining APC N250billion, Senator N1billion, Rep Member N500million For Defection

The Bola Tinubu's Presidency has been accused of a massive financial inducement scheme engineered to lure opposition governors and lawmakers into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Top sources within the Presidency told SaharaReporters on Friday that the ongoing wave of defections from opposition parties to the APC is being powered by jaw-dropping financial packages, coordinated directly from the Presidency and supervised by senior government officials around Tinubu. 

According to the sources, each state governor who has recently defected to the APC got a total package of N250billion.

"This money is released in two tranches; there is a N100 billion “grant” upfront once commitment is shown, and a balance of N150 billion after the formal defection ceremony," one of the sources revealed. 

“So, the state governors defecting to APC get a total N250billion, senators N1billion, and members of the House of Representatives N500million,” he said. 

Recently, the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and Delta State Governor, Sheriff Obovrevwori, have all dumped the opposition party, PDP, to join the ruling All Progressive Congress. 

Governor Mbah, announcing his defection in October, had said the move was driven by his desire to better serve the people of Enugu and align with the APC’s “vision for development and progress.”

The governor had expressed confidence that the APC platform would enable stronger collaboration and open new opportunities for growth in the state.

He also thanked his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for its support over the years but described his defection as a necessary step toward realising his administration’s goals.

“To the Peoples Democratic Party which provided us the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude. The PDP supported us through a demanding campaign and joined us in celebrating the victory,” he was quoted.
 
“Leadership demands difficult, even painful decisions, in the service of higher principles and goals. And there comes always a time where everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.
“Today after a long reflection, we have made a decision to join the All Progressives Congress.”

SaharaReporters had also in first week of November reported that the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending weeks of intense speculation and signalling a major political realignment in the South-South region.

Thousands of supporters and APC loyalists had flooded Yenagoa in a carnival-like procession to welcome Diri into the APC fold.

The event drew political figures including Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh.

Diri had claimed he left the PDP “in the best interest of the state.”

“Somebody had to take the decision (to leave the PDP), and I took it on behalf of the state. I took it in the best interest of Bayelsa. Some of you might not understand now, but later it will be clear to all,” Diri said.

He noted that politics should be about development and not destruction, adding that peace and unity remain the foundation of Bayelsa’s progress. 

“The peace and security we are enjoying is another reason to thank God. Politics is for development and not to kill your brother,” he added. 

With his defection, Diri becomes the 25th governor under the APC and the fourth PDP governor to switch allegiance this year, following the footsteps of Governors Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Peter Mbah (Enugu).