Fresh allegations have emerged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is using massive financial inducements to persuade opposition governors and lawmakers to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to top sources within the Presidency, the recent wave of defections from major opposition parties to the APC has been allegedly driven by a well-coordinated financial package, reportedly supervised by senior government officials close to President Tinubu.

Sources claimed that each governor who defects to the APC receives a total package of ₦250 billion, disbursed in two tranches — ₦100 billion upfront as a “grant” once commitment to join the party is confirmed, and the remaining ₦150 billion after a formal defection ceremony.

Similarly, senators are said to receive ₦1 billion each, while members of the House of Representatives allegedly get ₦500 million to cross over to the ruling party.

In recent months, several high-profile governors — including Peter Mbah of Enugu, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta — have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC, describing their defections as steps toward “developmental alignment” and “national progress.”

Governor Mbah, while announcing his defection in October, said his decision was aimed at enhancing collaboration and driving growth in Enugu State. “Leadership demands difficult, even painful decisions in service of higher goals,” he said.

Similarly, Bayelsa’s Governor Douye Diri recently formalized his defection to the APC in a carnival-like event attended by thousands of supporters and key political figures, including Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Oborevwori (Delta), and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), among others.

Diri defended his decision, insisting it was made “in the best interest of Bayelsa State,” emphasizing that politics should be about development and peace, not division.

With Diri’s defection, the APC now controls 25 out of 36 states, consolidating its political dominance and marking the fourth defection of a PDP governor to the ruling party this year.

As at press time, the Presidency has not issued an official response to the allegations of inducement.