Inside the Defection Deals: How Tinubu’s Government Reportedly Lures Opposition Politicians With Billions in Cash and Promises

By Paul Ebi

A storm is brewing in Nigeria’s political landscape following credible allegations that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been offering staggering financial incentives to opposition politicians in exchange for their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to multiple insider sources familiar with the ongoing political maneuvers, the defection package allegedly includes a ₦250 billion “infrastructure grant” for governors, ₦1 billion for senators, and ₦500 million for members of the House of Representatives who agree to dump their parties and pledge allegiance to the APC.

Secret Deals Behind Closed Doors

Findings from political insiders suggest that these offers are being made through discreet meetings between high-ranking government officials and targeted opposition figures. Some of these meetings are said to have taken place in Abuja, Lagos, and select state capitals, often under the guise of “consultations” or “development partnership discussions.”

One source close to the negotiations described the process as “a well-coordinated political operation funded through disguised federal allocations and special intervention funds.”

> “What they call infrastructure grants or development support are actually political settlement funds,” the source alleged. “Governors are told they’ll receive ₦250 billion once they make their defection official and pledge full support to the President’s political agenda.”

Money, Loyalty, and 2027 Calculations

Analysts believe the move is part of a broader strategy by the Tinubu-led government to consolidate political control ahead of the 2027 general elections, ensuring the APC dominates both at the federal and state levels.

A senior political observer in Abuja told our reporters that the scale of inducements, if confirmed, represents “one of the most audacious acts of political monetization in Nigeria’s democratic history.”

> “This is not politics as usual; this is the systematic buying of the republic,” the analyst said. “The opposition is being dismantled with money that likely comes from public coffers.”

Silence from the Presidency and APC

Repeated attempts by our correspondents to obtain reactions from the Presidential Villa, the Minister of Information, and the National Publicity Secretary of the APC yielded no official responses as of press time.

However, a senior aide in the Presidency who spoke off the record dismissed the reports as “baseless and politically motivated.”

> “These are fabrications by desperate politicians who can’t stand the unity and progress under President Tinubu,” the aide stated. “There’s no such thing as ₦250 billion for any defection.”

Civil Society Demands Investigation

Meanwhile, civil society organizations have demanded an urgent investigation into the alleged political payments. The Transparency Front Nigeria (TFN) and Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) jointly called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Assembly to probe the alleged diversion of public funds for partisan purposes.

> “This level of financial inducement, if true, is a betrayal of public trust and a criminal abuse of state resources,” said Dr. Tunde Akinyele, TFN’s Executive Director. “The EFCC and ICPC cannot pretend not to see what’s unfolding. Nigerians deserve transparency.”

A Familiar Pattern

Observers note that Nigeria has a long history of political defections, often motivated by promises of protection, contracts, or appointments. Yet, the sheer magnitude of the current alleged offers has sent shockwaves through the nation.

Already, several governors and lawmakers from opposition parties have recently crossed over to the APC, each citing “alignment with national progress” or “the President’s developmental vision.” Critics, however, say the timing and volume of defections lend credibility to suspicions of financial inducement.

Whether fact or political fiction, the allegations have ignited fresh debate about corruption, accountability, and the moral decay within Nigeria’s political class. As calls grow for an official inquiry, the silence from the government only deepens public suspicion that money — not ideology — remains the defining force of Nigerian politics.