Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of Edo State, recently shed light on the substantial financial investments made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC)-led leadership to secure victories in key states during the 2019 general elections.
Speaking at the book launch of ‘APC and Transition Politics’ by Salihu Moh Lukman, the party’s former vice-chairman for North-West, Oshiomhole unveiled that a significant amount of N1.6 billion was allocated by the NWC for the successful prosecution of governorship elections in Kwara and Ogun states.
Oshiomhole asserted the pivotal role played by the party in ensuring Hope Uzodimma’s emergence as the governor of Imo State. The revelations were made during the book launch event held in Abuja.
The former labour leader disclosed that under his leadership, the APC NWC took a strategic approach by providing financial support to candidates and refunded a total of N220 million contributed by other candidates in the Kwara governorship election. This move was aligned with the party’s commitment to a decisive and victorious battle in Kwara.
Highlighting the financial contributions made by the APC, Oshiomhole revealed that N800 million was deployed to reinforce the “Otoge agenda” in Kwara, effectively ending the political dominance of the Saraki dynasty. The funds used were characterized as grants from the APC treasury, not loans. Additionally, the NWC provided substantial financial support of N20 million to each senatorial candidate and N10 million to House of Representatives candidates, emphasizing that these funds were grants, not loans.
Oshiomhole emphasized that party supremacy extended beyond offering a platform, and the NWC, under his tenure, managed party resources efficiently without relying on contributions from governors. He highlighted the proactive measure of informing the Central Bank governor about the failure of governors to fulfill their promises of financial support for states without APC governors.
In recounting the financial support provided to rebellious governors, Oshiomhole noted the successful outcome in Ogun, where N800 million from the APC account bolstered the governor’s campaign. The former governor expressed satisfaction with the positive results achieved in supporting various candidates and campaigns.
In conclusion, Oshiomhole justified the APC’s actions, stating that the party’s financial support aimed to demonstrate commitment beyond mere rhetoric, ensuring that candidates felt the tangible backing of the party. He criticized Lukman for not acknowledging these innovative measures in his book, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the APC’s strategic financial contributions to candidates running on its platform.
