In an exclusive report, SaharaReporters has obtained documents revealing that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) transferred a substantial sum of N226,188,500 million to Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ahead of the November 11, 2023, governorship elections. The funds were reportedly moved under the guise of providing palliatives for indigent and underprivileged individuals.
Despite the stated purpose, government sources have disclosed to SaharaReporters that the funds were mobilized just days before the elections with the intention of buying votes, using the program for vulnerable people as a cover. The elections, marked by irregularities, saw APC candidates declared victorious in Imo and Kogi states, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate secured re-election in Bayelsa State.
A breakdown of the disbursement reveals that N72,374,500 was moved to Kogi State on November 6, 2023, just five days before the governorship election. Bayelsa State received N72,423,250 million on the same day, and Imo State received N81,390,750 million on November 3, 2023, a mere seven days before the election.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, personally approved the fund transfers to the three states, according to the obtained documents. The timing of these transactions, closely aligned with the elections, has raised concerns about the potential misuse of government funds for electoral gains.
The House of Representatives summoned Minister Betta Edu on October 31, 2023, to address concerns about the federal government’s conditional cash transfer program. The House expressed worries about transparency and alleged fraudulent practices in the program, demanding details on data collation and fund distribution.
President Bola Tinubu launched the conditional cash transfer program in October 2023, aiming to provide monthly transfers of N25,000 to 15 million beneficiary households for three months. However, reports of irregularities, including exclusion of beneficiaries and multiple payments to some, prompted the House’s urgent inquiry.
Internal memos obtained by SaharaReporters reveal budget details for events related to the fund disbursement, including logistics, media, security, and stakeholder engagement. The documents shed light on the allocation of funds for specific purposes, raising questions about the transparency and appropriateness of these transactions.
