ABUJA – While millions of Nigerians struggle to put bread on the table, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly burnt through a staggering ₦11 billion to fund its recently concluded National Convention at Eagle Square.
The eye-watering figure has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with critics labeling the event a “festival of waste” and a slap in the face to a citizenry currently enduring record-high inflation and crumbling infrastructure.
Where Did the Money Come From?
The convention’s Finance Sub-Committee, co-chaired by Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), went on a massive fundraising drive leading up to the March 27 event. While the party top brass insists the funds were “contributions from well-meaning Nigerians and party associates,” the sheer scale of the spending has raised eyebrows.
From high-tech digital displays to the reported ₦3,000 “attendance fee” paid to mobilize crowds at the venue, the APC spared no expense to project an image of unity—even as internal cracks continue to widen.
“Pay-to-Play” Democracy
The ₦11 billion splurge is being fueled, in part, by the party’s own exorbitant “entry fees.” With nomination forms for the National Chairman going for ₦10 million and whispers of a ₦200 million price tag for 2027 presidential hopefuls, the APC has effectively turned the democratic process into a rich man’s club.
“This is not a political party; it’s a billionaire’s auction,” one disgruntled aspirant, who was squeezed out of the race, told our correspondent. “How can a party spend ₦11 billion on a one-day talk shop while the Jos airport can’t even afford runway lights for the President to stay longer than ten minutes?”
A Tone-Deaf Display?
The timing of this financial excess couldn’t be worse for the Presidency. Just this week, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi slammed the administration for using state institutions to “bully and coerce” opposition leaders, while Bishop David Oyedepo blasted the government’s “demonic” oppression of the poor.
Even as the APC celebrates its newly minted leadership, the ghosts of the budget haunt the festivities. The ₦11 billion spent on the convention is nearly identical to the ₦11.25 billion recently approved for new presidential vehicles—a 135% increase that has left many Nigerians asking: Who is this government really working for?
As the dust settles at Eagle Square, the message from the ruling party seems clear: the treasury for political survival is bottomless, even if the national purse for the people is bone-dry.
