Some Governors spend N30b to contest party primary, says EFCC Chairman
By Samuel Ogunsona
Some Governorship aspirants spend up to N30b during party primaries, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Mr Ola Olukoyede has said.
He said the cost of contesting for governorship election in Nigeria is now so high that it threatens democracy itself.
Speaking at the University of Ilorin on Wednesday, Olukoyede said some governorship aspirants commit between ₦20 billion and ₦30 billion just to win party primaries.
He warned that such spending turns public office into a business and puts pressure on winners to “recover investments” after they get into power.
The EFCC boss delivered the address at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies’ inaugural High-Level Guest Speakers’ Series.
The theme was “De-risking and Mobilising Critical Stakeholders for Peaceful and Credible 2027 Elections in Nigeria.”
Using the governorship contest as his main example, Olukoyede explained how money shapes who becomes governor.
“The commercialisation of votes weakens the foundation of good governance because it compromises the political recruitment process. Leaders who buy their way into office are more likely to focus on recovering their investments rather than serving the public interest”, he said.
He said the anti-graft agency has already arrested politicians, electoral officials and voters across several states for vote-buying and related offences tied to primaries and elections. Several convictions have been secured.
Olukoyede warned that allowing money to decide governorship races could destabilize the country.
“There must be no sacred cows in enforcing electoral laws,” he stated, adding that impunity during elections erodes public trust.
