Melaye Accuses Tinubu of Buying Votes with Subsidy Funds

On Wednesday, former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye accused President Bola Tinubu of misappropriating funds from the removal of fuel subsidies, claiming that Tinubu allocated these funds to state governors in exchange for their votes and support for the 2027 elections. Melaye stated that Tinubu believed he was clever for diverting the proceeds of the subsidy removal, which was announced during his presidential inauguration in Abuja in 2023.

This policy has faced criticism, notably from Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, who has pledged to reinstate the fuel subsidy if elected in 2027. Melaye's comments were made via a post on X, where he expressed skepticism about Tinubu's strategy, suggesting that the president's reliance on governors would not yield the desired results as the elections approach.