By Peace Erewunmi

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has claimed that the Accord Party spent no less than N40 billion during the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Fayose made the claim while reacting to allegations by Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of spending N110 billion on vote-buying during the election.

Davido, who is the nephew of Osun State Governor and Accord Party candidate Ademola Adeleke, had also maintained that the Accord Party did not rely on financial inducement to win the election, but instead benefited from the support of the people.

Fayose, however, challenged that narrative, insisting that both leading parties spent heavily during the election.

“Accord Party led the opponents. The money that went to that election from the Accord Party itself cannot be under N40 billion. I stand to be corrected,” Fayose said.

The former governor further alleged that more than N7.5 billion was distributed to various local governments and wards shortly before the election. He claimed that some wards received at least N35 million.

Fayose did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate the figures he cited.

He also alleged that both Accord and APC exceeded the legal spending threshold for political parties during the election.

“The fact remains that both parties spent stupendously. They spent beyond the threshold like every other political party,” he said.

The comments have added another dimension to the ongoing debate over the factors behind Adeleke’s victory and allegations of vote-buying during the Osun election.

Davido’s claim that the APC spent N110 billion on vote-buying and Fayose’s allegation that Accord spent at least N40 billion are separate claims that have not been independently verified.

Adeleke won the election with 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The result has continued to generate political reactions from across the country.

Fayose’s latest comments also come shortly after he praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as allowing the will of Osun voters to prevail during the election.

The competing claims over campaign expenditure and alleged vote-buying are likely to keep the conduct of the Osun election at the centre of political debate as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.