Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has alleged that the Accord Party spent at least ₦40 billion during the 15 August Osun State governorship election.
Fayose’s assertions were made during a video interview with TVC journalist Nifemi Oguntoye, posted on X on Wednesday. His comments followed claims by Afrobeats musician David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido) that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had spent ₦110 billion on vote-buying, whilst asserting that the Accord Party spent no money and relied solely on public goodwill.
Countering those claims, Fayose insisted both main political parties spent heavily, dismissing suggestions that victory was achieved merely through popular support or prayer. He specifically alleged that more than ₦7.5 billion was dispatched to local government areas and wards immediately prior to polling day.
“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 stated.
“Secondly, on Monday, they sent over N7.5 billion to the various local governments. Various wards. The minimum for the wards that got the minimum would be about N35 million. In a ward of about 7, 8, 9 polling units,” he added.
Fayose, who did not provide documentary evidence for the figures cited, maintained that both parties breached legal spending limits.
“The fact remains that both parties spent stupendously. They spent beyond the threshold like every other political party,” Fayose remarked.
Questioning the timing of pre-election disbursements, he cited a recent probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The 1n20 million that went out like a week before the election that prompted the EFCC to freeze their account shows that something is not right. Why don’t you send those to the people six months ago?” he asked.
The election concluded with Accord Party candidate Ademola Adeleke polling 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes, a winning margin of 66,252.
Fayose attributed this gap primarily to the Adeleke family’s political stronghold in Ede, where the candidate secured a 46,000-vote advantage, rather than flaws in the APC’s candidate selection.
“The Adelekes are rooted in their hometown. Omisore or APC has no presence. So courting an Omisore or giving an Omisore the nomination, what would it change? Nothing. Because 66,000 votes differential, 46,000 from Ede alone. You can’t do nothing about it.”
Addressing potential legal challenges, Fayose encouraged the APC to seek redress in court if they suspect irregularities.
“I think they should go to court,” he said, adding: “I believe it was pirated. That’s what I believe.”