Lawyer and public affairs analyst Maxwell Opara has called for urgent investigations into allegations that some governors are using public funds to sponsor political campaigns and loyalists ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Opara argued that the growing display of wealth by certain political aspirants raises serious questions about the source of campaign financing and the possible misuse of state resources.
“Governors using public funds for campaigns should be investigated,” he said.
Opara dismissed suggestions that the allegations should merely be treated as routine political accusations, insisting that anti-corruption agencies must actively probe suspicious political spending.
“This is a public fund for Christ’s sake,” he stated.
According to him, many political aspirants who suddenly emerge with expensive campaigns, branded vehicles, and large political structures often have no known independent source of wealth.
“You have not done anything before… and you are now buying forms of 30 million naira,” he said.
Opara alleged that some governors sponsor political loyalists in order to protect their interests after leaving office.
“He is looking for somebody to protect his interests,” he stated.
He argued that such political sponsorship arrangements weaken democratic accountability and divert public resources away from citizens.
“This money is meant for them,” he said while referring to ordinary Nigerians affected by poverty and economic hardship.
According to Opara, impeachment remains an unrealistic solution because many state assemblies are politically controlled by the same governors accused of wrongdoing.
“Impeachment is completely out,” he said.
He explained that most lawmakers lack the independence required to hold governors accountable.
“These are those that are already under the pocket of the governor,” he stated.
Opara therefore urged anti-graft agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC to take over the responsibility of investigating alleged abuse of public funds.
“We are now looking at the anti-graft agencies and the ICPC to launch an investigation,” he said.
He also called on journalists and civil society organisations to intensify scrutiny of public spending and campaign financing.
“We are calling on civil society groups, journalists, to help us,” he stated.
According to Opara, weak transparency mechanisms and poor access to public financial records have made accountability difficult in many states.
“They will not give you the allocation,” he said while discussing difficulties accessing state financial information.
He criticised what he described as the failure to enforce local government financial autonomy, arguing that political interests have undermined reforms.
“Now, no accountability, no mechanism to checkmate these people,” he said.
Opara further insisted that public officials should be required to explain the source of their wealth and political expenditures.
“You should be able to launch an investigation,” he stated.
He argued that Nigeria’s worsening poverty situation contrasts sharply with the visible wealth accumulated by some politicians.
“How can we be making this kind of money and Nigeria is rated one of the poverty headquarters in the world?” he asked.
Despite acknowledging the political difficulty of prosecuting governors and politically exposed persons, Opara maintained that investigations remain necessary to strengthen public accountability.
“That is the only way to get out of this,” he concluded.
Opara concluded that with impeachment mechanisms largely weakened by political control, anti-graft agencies, journalists, and civil society groups must take a more active role in investigating alleged misuse of public funds and exposing questionable political financing ahead of the 2027 elections.
By Ojo Triumph
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