2027 campaign: Intrigues as APC rejects link to N701bn Energy Commission probe

The ongoing probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into alleged financial transactions linked to the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Mustapha Abdullahi, has triggered anxiety within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Although the exact amount under investigation remains unclear, with figures ranging from N500 billion to N701 billion in circulating reports, political attention has shifted to claims that the funds may have been tied to mobilisation efforts to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

The controversy intensified following allegations that huge sums were channelled through structures linked to the “Renewed Hope Ambassadors” and the “Renewed Hope Network,” groups saddled with the task of mobilisation for the President ahead of 2027.

Sources within the party also alleged that some APC governors made coordinated contributions using portions of their states’ Federation Account Allocation Committee allocations, raising concerns within the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) led by Hope Uzodimma, Imo State governor.

The development is said to have created quiet tensions among governors loyal to the party, particularly around the leadership of Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the governors’ forum.

BusinessDay reports that the development came at a time the PGF was  battling with internal crisis. Uzodimma had last week survived ouster as Chairman of the PGF, after about 13 governors of the party had moved for his removal as the head.

Party insiders said concerns deepened after the matter reportedly attracted forensic scrutiny from the EFCC, with questions allegedly raised over who authorised the transactions, managed the accounts and supervised the deployment of the funds.

Earlier, the federal government’s economic team came under  scrutiny after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused President Tinubu and the APC governors of allegedly diverting over N800 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds for 2027 political activities.

The allegation emerged amid reports of renewed discussions with the World Bank over a proposed $1.25 billion fresh loan facility, further heightening concerns over fiscal transparency, public finance management and the worsening economic hardship facing Nigerians.

In a statement signed by Bolaji Abdullahi, its National Publicity Secretary, the ADC had described the alleged diversion of FAAC funds as “shameless, cruel and criminal,” and demanded a full investigation into the claims.

But Felix Morka, a lawyer, and the APC National Publicity Secretary, told BusinessDay in a telephone interview on Saturday that all the allegations were false and baseless.

Morka also referenced his interview on Arise TV Breakfast Show, dismissing the allegations on campaign funds.

He accused the ADC of attempting to distract Nigerians from internal crises within its party.

Morka argued that FAAC is a multi-party body made up of commissioners, accountants-general and representatives of both APC and opposition-controlled states, making any secret deduction impossible without collective knowledge.

He challenged critics to name any APC governor who publicly raised the allegation, insisting the claims were based only on unverified media reports.

Morka also denied reports linking tensions within the Progressive Governors’ Forum to the controversy.