From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonoye, Abuja
The controversy over the alleged withholding of N250 billion in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividends due to states has deepened, with the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) challenging the Presidency to publish financial records showing how much was received and distributed, even as President Bola Tinubu’s aides defended his economic record and campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The campaign organisation of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, accused the Tinubu administration of evading questions surrounding the dividends and running what it described as a “voodoo economy” in which official claims of economic progress bear little resemblance to the living conditions of Nigerians.
The Presidency, however, maintained that Tinubu would seek re-election on the strength of his administration’s achievements, an expanded political coalition and grassroots mobilisation, rather than extensive appearances at campaign rallies across the country.
In its response to the Presidency’s denial of Makinde’s allegation, the MDPCO insisted that the central issue was whether the Federal Government had received NLNG dividends meant for distribution to states and, if so, why the funds had not been released.
It described the Presidency’s response as an attempt to divert attention from what it called a constitutional violation and an assault on the financial rights of states.
“If the Tinubu Presidency claims that Makinde is wrong in his assertion that N250 billion NLNG dividend meant for states is being withheld, we challenge President Tinubu to directly tell Nigerians if the said dividends have been paid to the states rather than resorting to personal attacks on the APM presidential candidate,” the organisation stated.
The campaign argued that Makinde’s presidential ambition did not diminish his right, as a serving governor, to demand accountability over public funds or question the Federal Government’s handling of revenues accruing to the federation.
It challenged the Presidency to explain whether the Federal Government possessed constitutional powers to withhold funds due to states and demanded the publication of relevant NLNG dividend receipts, Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) decisions and official correspondence establishing the amounts received, approved for distribution and scheduled for payment.
According to the organisation, Nigerians deserve to know how much NLNG paid in dividends during the period under dispute, how much was credited to the Federation Account and what portion was approved for distribution to states.
“Invoking NLNG’s cumulative dividend payments in the last 25 years does not answer these questions. Historical totals cannot, by themselves, establish the amount received during a specific period and the sum available for distribution,” it stated.
The MDPCO also rejected the Presidency’s reported argument that paying ₦250 billion to each of the 36 states would amount to ₦9 trillion, insisting that the calculation did not address the actual amount in dispute.
“The question is not whether ₦9 trillion was ever paid in a single transaction, but the amount that is actually under discussion as can be established by the official records,” it argued.
The organisation maintained that only the relevant financial records could establish whether the disputed dividends had been received, approved for distribution, delayed or withheld.
It accused the APC administration of relying on propaganda and unsupported economic claims while Nigerians continued to contend with hardship.
“The MDPCO stands by Makinde in his assertion that President Tinubu is running a voodoo economy where government thrives on lies, where the national fortunes only improve on paper with no corresponding improvement in the harsh everyday life of citizens under his administration,” the campaign stated.
It further alleged that the Presidency’s response reflected growing anxiety within the ruling party over Makinde’s presidential ambition and what it described as increasing public acceptance of his RESET NIGERIA Agenda.
The campaign maintained that attacks on Makinde would not distract Nigerians from demanding explanations about the disputed dividends and the administration’s economic management.
However, the Presidency has continued to project confidence in Tinubu’s economic record and political strength, insisting that his achievements and the broad coalition assembled for his re-election would speak for him during the campaigns.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, defended Tinubu’s decision to limit his physical appearances at campaign rallies, arguing that the responsibilities of governance should not be subordinated to electioneering.
Tinubu had, while inaugurating the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, October 14, told party leaders that he would not accompany the campaign organisation to every state because of the demands of his office.
“Nigeria needs more attention now than ever before. The responsibility of this office does not pause. The job must go on. However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas. So you will excuse me from going everywhere with you,” the President had said.
He also cited the country’s financial obligations and the need to sustain investor confidence as reasons he could not devote all his time to political campaigns.
Defending the decision in an article titled, “Tinubu’s Campaign Strategy and the Unnecessary Political Storm,” Rahman said the President’s approach was deliberate and should not be mistaken for political weakness.
“President Tinubu is offering a results-based campaign,” he said, describing the inauguration of the campaign council as “a shift from emotional politics to evidence-based politics.”
Rahman argued that Tinubu had travelled extensively across the country during the 2023 presidential campaign and should now concentrate on delivering on his mandate while the campaign council and party structures mobilised support nationwide.
“A sitting President campaigning in all 36 states for months would ground governance.
“The President has chosen to let his record campaign for him in many states, while deploying a robust council, surrogates, and grassroots structures to cover the field,” he said.
According to him, the effectiveness of a presidential campaign should not be measured solely by the number of rallies attended by the candidate but also by the strength of its organisation, policy offerings and engagement with voters.
“What matters is presence—not just physical presence, but the presence of campaign structures, party agents, projects, and benefits,” he stated.
Rahman also defended the inclusion of politicians from opposition parties in the APC Presidential Campaign Council, describing the arrangement as evidence of Tinubu’s ability to build alliances across political divides.
Among those named as campaign coordinators are Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Adeleke is to coordinate campaign activities in Osun, Soludo in Anambra, while Wike will oversee Rivers State and the FCT.
“The Renewed Hope coalition was never meant to be an APC-only choir. It is a national movement,” Rahman said.
“In a democracy, when your opponents start seeing reason in your vision, you don’t slam the door shut; you leave it wide open and welcome all comers.”
He recalled political alliances associated with former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as the merger of opposition parties that produced the APC ahead of the 2015 presidential election, arguing that Nigeria’s political history demonstrated the importance of building alliances across geopolitical boundaries.
“The point is straightforward: to win Nigeria, you must carry Nigeria along,” he said.
Rahman cited what he described as improvements in economic growth, naira stability, investor confidence and infrastructure development under Tinubu, identifying the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) as programmes the administration would showcase during the campaign.
“Elections are not won by who shouted in the most states, but by who delivered in the most homes,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice-President, Stanley Nkwocha, has questioned the political calculations behind the Peter Obi–Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso presidential ticket, urging the South-East to reassess its strategy for securing national political power.
Speaking at a strategic APC sensitisation meeting in Imerienwe Ward 5, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, Nkwocha warned that any proposed one-term presidency arrangement associated with the alliance should be examined against the region’s long-term political interests.
He argued that the South-East needed to move beyond its voting pattern in the 2023 election and cultivate alliances capable of strengthening its influence at the national level.
According to him, the region’s comparatively smaller registered voter population makes cooperation with other geopolitical zones essential to its ambition of producing Nigeria’s president.
Nkwocha also defended the Tinubu administration’s record in the South-East, citing the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, reconstruction of federal highways, transportation improvements and other economic investments.
He urged residents to support Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 election.
“My boss, Vice President Kashim Shettima, is on the ballot. Please support the Vice President,” he appealed.
The meeting witnessed declarations of support for the APC by community leaders and political stakeholders who pledged to strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections.
Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Enyinna Onuegbu, recalled Imerienwe’s history of political organisation, saying the community had traditionally played an important role in electoral contests.
“We used to come to Imerienwe to learn how to play politics,” he said.
Onuegbu praised Uzodimma’s infrastructure initiatives, particularly improvements at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, which he said had enabled night flight operations.
“Under Governor Hope Uzodimma, aeroplanes now land at the Imo State Airport at night. More good things are coming in the future,” he stated.
Expressing confidence in the APC’s mobilisation efforts, he declared that “Imerienwe will deliver all APC candidates.”
Chairman of Ndi Nze Ngor-Okpala and Okenze Ngor-Okpala Ggburughuli, Sylvester Obinna, urged residents to strengthen their political engagement with the ruling party, while retired Air Vice Marshal Remigius Ekeh stressed the importance of strategic political participation.
“Politics is both local and strategic. Strategic thinking must be used in order to make a success of our political ambitions,” Ekeh said.
Earlier, Chairman of Umunakara Community, Ifeanyi Nwaiwu, announced that political leaders and supporters from seven villages had resolved to unite under the APC.
He identified the villages as Umuchieze, Umukoha, Umundiukwu, Umunakara, Umunwoko, Umuodu and Umuokoji.
“There is no other party in contention. We are all collapsing our political affiliations into the APC,” Nwaiwu declared, assuring party leaders that the community would support the mobilisation exercise.
“We will not shame you,” he added.
Residents, however, presented development requests, including the grading of community roads and installation of 50 additional solar-powered streetlights to improve accessibility, security and economic activities.
Other participants included APC Owerri Zonal Women Leader Tina Okere, APC Ngor Okpala Vice-Chairman Georginia Onuoha, local government party secretary Emmanuel Dubic, youth leader Chinedu Uhuka and Imerienwe Ward 5 Chairman Friday Ole.
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