In a jaw-dropping revelation, media mogul and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu has alleged that Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State and now FCT Minister, disbursed a staggering $30,000 to each of the 774 PDP delegates during the party’s 2022 presidential primary.
Momodu made the claim during an appearance on the Key to Keys podcast, where he recounted the financial hurdles that hampered his campaign efforts.
“I spent about N50 million just to buy the form… It was a complete waste. I didn’t get a single vote because everything was monetised. One of the aspirants paid $30,000 to each delegate. We had 774 delegates. How do you compete with that?” Momodu lamented.
💸 Breakdown of the Alleged Bribery:
Total Delegates: 774
Alleged Payment per Delegate: $30,000
Total Estimate: $23.22 million (over ₦10 billion at the time)
The publisher of Ovation Magazine pointed out that the use of untraceable cash—believed to have come from oil-rich states—made it easier for aspirants with deep pockets to dominate the process without accountability.
While Momodu stopped short of directly naming Wike, his comments left little to the imagination, especially given that Wike finished second in the PDP primary behind Atiku Abubakar, with a commanding 237 votes.
🔥 Why This Matters:
Democracy Undermined: The allegation, if true, shows how money continues to erode the democratic foundation of Nigeria’s party politics.
System Rigged by the Rich: “Those with billions can easily bulldoze their way through,” Momodu noted, highlighting the growing culture of financial intimidation in elections.
Wike’s Political Rise Under Scrutiny: After losing the PDP primary, Wike’s unexpected alignment with the ruling APC and subsequent appointment as FCT Minister sparked questions about political deals behind the scenes.
📌 Background:
The PDP primary held in May 2022 was widely considered a turning point for Nigeria’s opposition politics. Atiku Abubakar emerged the party’s flag bearer, but reports of heavy financial inducements dominated the post-primary narrative.
Momodu’s remarks have reignited those concerns, especially as the nation heads into another political season with calls for reforms in campaign finance and internal party democracy.
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