The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) has revealed that two candidates seeking to become the next Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker are planning to bribe their colleagues with as much as $1 million each to get elected.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), made this allegation in a memo to the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the PGF, they were aware of “rumours” that two lawmakers, one aspiring for Senate President and another for Speaker of the House of Representatives, have expressed willingness to offer between $500,000 and $1 million per lawmaker in exchange for votes.
Although they did not name the two candidates allegedly involved in the bribery scheme, they suggested the two candidates are members of the APC.
“Indeed, it is being rumoured that one aspirant for the Senate Presidency and another for Speakership are willing to offer as much as $500,000 to $1 million per vote. Opposition party members of the National Assembly are being courted with the likelihood of the 2015 situation presenting itself if care is not taken.
Furthermore, the governors noted that aspirants are offering newly elected lawmakers thousands of dollars for support, and some are willing to take the offer to a million dollars per vote.
“It is imperative that the President-Elect and the Party wade into this situation and announce an acceptable zoning formula as soon as possible. This is necessary to prevent over-investment by candidates, which leads to acrimony and bitterness. New Senators-elect and members-elect are being offered thousands of dollars.
“Indeed, it is being rumoured that one aspirant for the Senate Presidency and another for Speakership are willing to offer as much as $500,000 to $1 million per vote. Opposition party members of the National Assembly are being courted with the likelihood of the 2015 situation presenting itself if care is not taken,” the memo reads in part.
