The ongoing naira scarcity is not likely to deter the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate from engaging in vote buying ahead of Saturday’s elections, as key party leaders have devised new plans to circumvent the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s cashless policy in desperate attempts to influence the polls.
Several APC chieftains have allegedly received their largesse to ensure that they win their polling units at all costs for Tinubu on Saturday.
According to our investigations, Bola Tinubu’s camp may have given blank cheques to some of his lieutenants in order to win in four swing states at any cost.
In a series of WhatsApp conversations with local APC leaders who requested anonymity, they confirmed the party has a cash mob organized by Tinubu’s camp.
Tinubu, according to an APC leader in Ayobo area of Lagos state, has handed out “over 200 billion naira shared to party members across Nigeria”. He said these funds were meant for “logistics at the polling units”. The influential party leader who has been with Tinubu since 2005, reveals further that Tinubu’s men have doled out a “minimum of N520,000,00 per polling unit” ahead of Saturday’s election.
“That’s for polling units alone amounting to 100 billion”, he added.
A member of the APC’s National Working Committee from a South-West state confirmed the development, he said “At least I am in charge of the allocation for the 4 units of my community and can confirm receipt of the money though through transfer.”
When asked if he got his mobilization since last week, he said, “Last week? N200,000 per ward was shared. That’s outside funds meant for security, other things. There’s also cash already made available across the nation in the new currency notes.”
A close source at Tinubu’s Bourdillon home, Ikoyi expressed shock at Tinubu’s desperation. He said “BAT is indeed something else”. He said Tinubu’s activities in the last few days has been largely responsible for the banks’ network downtime. According to him, “This is majorly why bank apps and systems are virtually down…”
Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused Tinubu of large-scale cash-laundering to influence voters ahead of the February 25th election.
According to Atiku “Tinubu has history of appropriating public assets. What Tinubu has done in Lagos is state capture. He appropriated everything to himself including but not limited to cemeteries.”
Debo Ologunabga, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, accused Tinubu and his key lieutenants of being desperate to win the presidential election with any means possible.
He said “Nigerians now know the truth and hold Asiwaju Tinubu and the APC directly responsible for the anguish they have been subjected to in the face of this excruciating cash scarcity; another reason they will deal Tinubu a humiliating blow with their votes at the February 25, 2023 presidential election.”