Political Allegations: Bugaje Claims APC Is Bribing PDP Members to Defect

Ex-House Rep and Presidential Advisor, Usman Bugaje, Accuses APC of Buying Off Opposition Politicians

Political Allegations: Bugaje Claims APC Is Bribing PDP Members to Defect

In a shocking turn of events, Usman Bugaje, a former member of Nigeria's House of Representatives and ex-presidential advisor, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using cold, hard cash to lure politicians from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties.

According to our website, Bugaje's comments come hot on the heels of recent defections, including that of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Ifeanyi Okowa, the 2023 running mate to Atiku Abubakar, who joined the APC on Wednesday.

In an interview with Arise News, Bugaje explained that while there may be instances where opposition figures with records at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are coerced into defecting, the primary driver behind the recent mass defections is financial gain.

"Well, for what I know, and I don't claim to know everything, the APC is basically using money to buy off PDP," Bugaje stated.

He went on to say, "Some say a carrot and a steak. So the money is the carrot. What's the steak? I'm not quite sure. Of course, if there are people with records in the EFCC, they may invest in them. They might do these kinds of things. And this has been the practice right from the time of President Obasanjo."

Bugaje expressed serious concern about the use of money in politics, describing it as a grave threat to the integrity of the nation's democratic process.

"And for me, this is a very serious issue, and this should be the center of our conversation in politics because for as long as money is going to be the determining factor, you know, then that's the end of democracy, and that's the end of politics," he warned.

Meanwhile, the PDP has reacted strongly to the recent defections, particularly in Delta State, where it was caught off-guard by the mass movement of its key members to the APC. In a statement, acting national chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, expressed that the party did not expect such a significant loss of members.

He emphasised that the next general election would not be determined by the number of governors a party holds, but rather by the will of the people. Damagum also suggested that the election would serve as an opportunity for Nigerians to punish the ruling APC for the hardship it has caused.

In response to the state of opposition politics in Nigeria, Bugaje criticised the PDP's failure to present a strong opposition since Minister Nyesom Wike's defection to the APC. He pointed out that the PDP had lost its effectiveness as the main opposition party, citing instances where members failed to challenge the APC on critical issues.

"There has not been opposition right from the time the minister Wike did what he did. I mean, basically, the PDP has lost that opportunity to become an opposition party," Bugaje remarked.

He further highlighted the party's lack of action during significant parliamentary issues such as the declaration of emergency rule and budget discussions, which he believed demonstrated the PDP's inability to perform its role as an opposition force.

"Look at how members behaved in the last big issue of emergency rule, in the parliament, look at what they did when it came to the budgeting to so many other things. So really, there is no opposition party," he concluded.

As the political landscape in Nigeria continues to shift, these allegations of financial incentives and the ensuing party defections could have far-reaching implications for the integrity of Nigerian politics. However, without concrete evidence, these claims remain just that - allegations.