Delegates Urge Senator Adegbonmire to Fulfill Outstanding Financial Promise

APC members allege breach of trust over unpaid balance from 2023 primary elections

Akure, Ondo State – Delegates who participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in Akure, the Ondo State capital, along with others from Ondo West and across the Ondo Central Senatorial District, are publicly urging Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire to fulfill an alleged financial commitment made during the party’s primaries.

According to multiple sources, selected delegates were each promised ₦1 million in exchange for their support of Senator Adegbonmire’s candidacy during the 2023 primaries. On the day of the election, ₦500,000 was allegedly paid to each delegate, with a pledge that the remaining balance would be settled once the results were announced.

Months later, many of those delegates say they have been abandoned and ignored, with no communication from the senator’s camp and no resolution in sight.

“A Heartbreaking Disappointment” – Delegate

Mr. Omoyemi Adebayo, a delegate from Ward 7 in Ondo West Local Government Area, expressed deep frustration in an interview with reporters.

“We believed in Senator Adegbonmire and supported him because we thought he was a man of integrity. This disappointment is heartbreaking. I am ready to pursue my payment through any means necessary,” Adebayo said.

Efforts by several delegates to reach the senator over the past months have reportedly yielded no response.

APC Leadership Reacts

A senior official of the Ondo State APC, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the growing tensions but said the party is not liable for financial arrangements made outside of official structures.

“The party does not condone any form of inducement during primaries. If individuals made private deals, they are personally responsible. We advise aggrieved members to file formal complaints through internal party channels,” the official said.

The APC’s official position highlights a growing concern over what many view as the unchecked monetization of internal party processes.

Legal Implications: Delegates May Be on Shaky Ground

Legal experts warn that taking the matter to court may backfire on the delegates themselves.

“Any agreement based on vote-buying or inducement is not legally binding and may even be criminal,” said Barrister Femi Olatunde, a constitutional lawyer based in Akure.

“By admitting they accepted money to vote a certain way, delegates may be confessing to electoral malpractice under the Electoral Act.”

Olatunde recommends the issue be handled internally within the party, emphasizing that legal redress could expose both parties to prosecution.

Broader Party Concerns: A Pattern Emerges

This incident adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding internal democracy within Nigerian political parties. Critics argue that primary elections—meant to reflect grassroots consensus—have become transactional and unaccountable, damaging the party’s image and unity.

Political observers in Ondo Central note that similar allegations have surfaced in past APC primaries, pointing to a systemic problem rather than an isolated dispute.

If left unaddressed, party insiders warn, such issues could lead to internal disaffection and weaken party performance in future elections.

Senator Silent Amid Growing Pressure

As of the time of publication, all efforts to reach Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire for comment have been unsuccessful. His continued silence is only fueling calls for transparency and accountability from within the party ranks.