Fresh outrage is spreading across Nigeria after multiple viral videos showed large scale cash distributions, vouchers and empowerment items being handed out during political style events linked to supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South West, the president’s political stronghold.
Many Nigerians call it a shameless way to buy votes with stolen public funds while the country bleeds.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong reacted to the controversy by warning that allowing criminal elements to take control of a country never ends well.
The videos, now circulating widely across social media, have triggered heated reactions from Nigerians who accuse political actors of using cash empowerment programmes to secure loyalty and strengthen grassroots influence ahead of the 2027 general election.
One of the clips shows a group of men gathered around a white table outdoors on what appears to be an open field. The men wear matching bright green traditional outfits designed with bold black patterns carrying the Tinubu logo. Some also wear red and white caps branded with the word Eshilokun while others have identification cards hanging from lanyards around their necks.
At the center of the scene is a large striped sack packed with cash. The men repeatedly pull out thick rubber banded bundles of naira notes, count the money carefully and arrange it into piles across the table.
Green pamphlets titled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Cash Empowerment Programme carrying the president’s photograph are spread across the table beside yellow envelopes, handwritten lists, mobile phones and loose papers. The footage shows the men stuffing money into envelopes, checking names on handwritten lists and handing out the envelopes to recipients.
One man in a red cap stares directly into the camera while holding papers as others continue sorting cash and pointing at documents around the overflowing sack of money.
Another viral clip from the same region shows a much larger gathering taking place outdoors beneath decorated tents filled with balloons and banners. Women dressed in colorful traditional attire stand in long lines while men wearing white caps and branded jackets coordinate activities around crowded tables.
The jackets are printed with the words Hope Empowerment 100 SMES and Teslim Adeshina Okolomo. At the center of the gathering sits a yellow table stacked with visible bundles of naira notes as organizers hand out small cards and vouchers to attendees.
Several women are seen proudly holding up cards carrying photographs after receiving items during the event. A man dressed in a red and white branded jacket gestures repeatedly while speaking to recipients and directing the crowd as background music plays throughout the gathering.
Both videos carry the watermark of Dior Events and Parties and have fueled growing public anger online. Many Nigerians say the scenes are clear evidence of political cash distribution disguised as empowerment programmes while millions of citizens continue struggling with inflation, hunger, unemployment, poor roads and collapsing public services.
Many Nigerians have questioned why Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC remain silent despite the widespread circulation of the videos. Many believe the events are part of early political mobilization efforts aimed at securing grassroots loyalty long before official election campaigns begin.
Despite those defenses, the videos have intensified nationwide debate over the growing role of cash based empowerment programmes in Nigerian politics and whether such events are truly designed to support citizens or simply strengthen political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
