Dele Momodu exposes how a PDP aspirant allegedly distributed $30,000 to each delegate during the party’s 2022 presidential primary, sparking fresh discussions on election spending.
Dele Momodu, the well-known publisher of Ovation Magazine, has exposed details regarding the monetization of the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary. He disclosed that one aspirant handed out $30,000 to each of the 774 delegates involved in this event.
During an appearance on the KeytoKeys podcast, Momodu shared his regret about spending nearly ₦50 million to buy the PDP presidential nomination form, expressing concern over the significant role that financial influence played in dominating the primary.
He characterized the event as being heavily monetized, which compromised the integrity of the democratic process.
Momodu added that he would only consider running for president in the future if chosen as a consensus candidate, highlighting his reluctance to participate in campaigns driven by financial interests.
He stated, “No, experience is the best teacher. I have come to understand that there are forces you might call principalities that govern Nigeria.”
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I would consider it only if a major political party reaches a consensus that Dele Momodu is the best candidate to lead and transform Nigeria.
However, if I am required to spend my money on purchasing a presidential nomination form costing around N100 million—when the last time I spent about N50 million on such a form—it feels like it would be squandered. That same amount could have been used to buy property, and in the end, nobody voted for me—not even one vote—as everything was driven by monetary influence.
One of the candidates paid up to $30,000 per delegate, and with 774 delegates involved, it’s challenging to compete against them. These individuals have exploited the country extensively through various deals to amass wealth, particularly in regions rich in oil.
“It’s challenging, which is why it’s difficult to compete with them. This leads to their disrespectful behavior towards Nigerians due to the vast amounts of money they have in raw cash. Nowhere else in the world do people manage raw cash like they do in Nigeria.”
“The majority of their money isn’t in any bank, making it untraceable. If you were to ask some politicians today for $500 million to run for President, they would be able to find it. But people like us—where do I even begin? I’m not concerned.”
