Report Alleges Tinubu’s Government Is Paying Governors N250bn, Senators N1bn, and Other Lawmakers Millions to Defect to APC

The administration of Bola Tinubu is reportedly offering massive financial incentives to opposition governors and lawmakers to switch allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Sahara reporters, top sources within the Presidency revealed to them on Friday that the ongoing wave of defections from opposition parties to the APC is being driven by staggering financial packages, coordinated directly from the Presidency and overseen by senior officials close to Tinubu.

According to the sources, each state governor who recently joined the APC was given a total package of N250 billion.

“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 source revealed.

“So, the state governors defecting to APC get a total N250 billion, senators N1 billion, and members of the House of Representatives N500 million,” he added.

Recently, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri, and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori all left the opposition PDP to join the ruling APC.

Governor Mbah, announcing his defection in October, stated that 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 expressed confidence that joining APC 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 realizing 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 said. “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.”

Reports had it earlier that in the first week of November, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri officially left the PDP for APC, ending weeks of intense speculation and signaling a major political realignment in the South-South region.

Thousands of supporters and APC loyalists flooded Yenagoa in a carnival-like procession to welcome Diri into the APC fold. The event attracted 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 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 emphasized that politics should focus on development rather than destruction, noting 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 this defection, Diri becomes the 25th governor under APC and the fourth PDP governor to switch allegiance this year, following the paths of Governors Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Peter Mbah (Enugu).