Press Statement: ActionAid Nigeria Demands Immediate Impeachment of Any Governor Found Using State Funds for Political Campaigns

Abuja, Nigeria- ActionAid Nigeria is deeply alarmed by disturbing reports and allegations currently in the public domain suggesting that some serving governors may have mobilised or contributed massive sums of money for political campaign activities and the consolidation of political power ahead of the 2027 general elections. These reports have triggered serious national concern, and Nigerians are asking the most important and unavoidable question: where exactly did these enormous funds come from?

Speaking in Abuja, ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu noted that “It is appalling that at a time when Nigeria is drowning in debt, workers are struggling with the rising cost of living, public hospitals are underfunded, schools are collapsing, insecurity is spreading, and millions of Nigerians are battling hunger and extreme economic hardship, that any suggestion of public resources are being diverted or deployed for political campaigns. It is outrageous, reckless, immoral, and completely unacceptable. Let it be clearly stated that governors are not elected to convert state resources into political war chests. Nigerians did not vote for public office holders to use taxpayer funds, state allocations, public procurement systems, security votes, government assets, or state institutions to fund political ambitions and electoral calculations.

ActionAid Nigeria, therefore, demands an immediate public explanation from all governors and political actors allegedly linked to these reports. Nigerians deserve to know whether these funds came from legitimate private political fundraising or whether state resources were directly or indirectly used, leveraged, diverted, coordinated, or disguised for political purposes. If these funds did not come from public resources, then those involved must come out to publicly and transparently state so.”

ActionAid Nigeria also calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and State Houses of Assembly to immediately launch a full-scale, independent, transparent, and forensic investigation into these allegations. This is a matter of public interest, democratic integrity, accountability, and the protection of public resources belonging to millions of Nigerians.

The Country Director continued that, “ActionAid Nigeria calls for the immediate commencement of impeachment proceedings against any governor found guilty of using state resources for partisan political purposes. Any governor who diverts public resources for political campaigns has violated public trust and abused the mandate given to them by citizens. Such individuals should not remain in office. Appropriate sanctions must also include prosecution, recovery of diverted funds, removal from public office, disqualification from holding public offices in the future, and every other legal consequence necessary to protect democratic accountability and deter future abuse.” 

He also expressed concerns that this situation is painting a dangerous picture of what may already be happening quietly across State and Federal levels, and what could become even more widespread ahead of the 2027 elections. This is exactly how democratic institutions become weakened, and elections become unfairly influenced by the enormous powers and resources controlled by incumbents, leaving those who are not in office but contesting for the same positions at a significant disadvantage.

He reiterated that ActionAid Nigeria acknowledges that political parties have the right to choose how to organise their campaigns or raise lawful private political support. Political activities must, however, never include the misuse of state resources, public funds and institutions, or taxpayer money, as the treasury of a state does not belong to governors or political parties. Noting that if presidents, governors, ministers, commissioners, or other public office holders are travelling across the country for political meetings, political negotiations, campaign mobilisation, or partisan engagements, such activities must be funded from lawful personal, party, or privately declared resources and not from state coffers. In many democratic countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, and South Africa, there are strict rules, ethical standards, oversight systems, and public accountability mechanisms intended to prevent incumbents from converting public resources into campaign infrastructure. Misuse of public resources for partisan political purposes in such democracies often leads to resignations, criminal investigations, sanctions, impeachment proceedings, or removal from office.”

ActionAid Nigeria calls on Nigerians across the country, and in the diaspora, to remain vigilant and defend public resources. Citizens, whistleblowers, journalists, procurement officers, anti-corruption advocates, civil servants, and members of the public must raise the alarm wherever there is evidence or suspicion of unlawful spending of state resources for political activities. “Ahead of the 2027 elections, Nigerians must keep their eyes open and remain alert to any attempt to divert public resources into political campaigns and partisan activities. The defence of democracy cannot be left to institutions alone. Citizens must actively defend their states, their resources, and the integrity of public governance.”

Signed,

Andrew Mamedu

Country Director

Editors' notes 
ActionAid Nigeria, a social justice non-governmental organisation working to eradicate poverty and all forms of injustice in Nigeria. We are an affiliate member of the ActionAid International Federation with a presence in 45 countries. AAN works in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication towards achieving a just, equitable, and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression.