Afenifere Director Warns Money, Political Power Will Decide 2027 Presidential Election
Dr. Akin Fapounda, Director of Research for the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, has said that the outcome of the 2027 presidential election may be determined largely by political power and financial influence.
Speaking during an interview, Fapounda claimed that the 31 governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) could potentially use four months of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to influence the election outcome.
According to him, the party might increase vote-buying amounts to between N20,000 and N50,000 per voter, rather than the commonly reported N5,000, in a bid to secure victory.
He said, “We now have 31 governors who are in one basket; all they need to do is to devote the four-month FAAC allocation to buy whatever is ready to be bought.
“You can’t beat that. Any money that comes, even if it’s from the devil, people will take it.
“If you vote, don’t collect N5,000, collect N20,000, N50,000; that’s what is going to happen. So, whosoever has might will win.
“Election is war; everything is fair when you are fighting a war. If APC has the tools to defeat ADC and PDP, they are in a way ahead.
“It’s a war, in a do-or-die situation, who wants to die? APC wants to live and others must die. Until we change the rules and bring the temperature down to a civilised society, everything is fair.”
Fapounda also disclosed that Afenifere had submitted proposals on restructuring and the creation of Western Nigeria to the National Assembly, insisting that restructuring should not be seen as a path to anarchy.
He explained that the proposed restructuring would be voluntary and would involve a referendum organised by the group to ensure fairness and openness.
“Restructuring is not a recipe for anarchy. In Yoruba land, we have six states, but it might be eight; we are looking at Kogi and Kwara States because they are Yoruba people too. It’s going to be voluntary; it won’t be by force.
“In Yoruba land, we have 26 entities. Ijebu is Ijebu, Osogbo is Osogbo, Oyo is Oyo, Ibadan is Ibadan, among others. They have different dialects, but they are Yoruba people and they are free to be on their own,” he added.
