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…Petitioner requests investigation of donors, vehicle ownership, valuation and funding sources
Ayomide Awe
A fresh campaign finance controversy has erupted in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 governorship elections, following a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission calling for an investigation into 119 vehicles publicly acknowledged as donations to the campaign of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
The petition, dated September 30, 2026 and addressed to the Zonal Director of the EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Directorate, was presented by a politician, Adekunle Shomorin, who described himself as a concerned citizen residing in Ogun State.
Shomorin asked the anti-corruption agency to establish the identity of the donors, the ownership of the vehicles, their actual market value, the sources of funds used for their acquisition and whether the donations complied with the Elections Act 2026 and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The petition follows Adeola’s September 28 statement in which she thanked 22 individuals, companies and groups for donating a total of 119 vehicles, including buses, to support her campaign and grassroots mobilization across Ogun State.
According to the published list, businessman Akintunde Armstrong was credited with 26 buses, while Alhaji IBD Dende was listed as having donated seven buses and an ambulance.
Zacobass Oil & Gas, Stonebridge Engineering Services Limited, Elele Ijebu, Amazon Luxury Apartments, Mr Osho and Polanco were listed as contributors of 10 buses.
One of the main aspects of the petition is the 26 buses attributed to Armstrong.
Shomorin used an 18-seater Toyota Hiace as a benchmark and estimated that 26 vehicles worth N28 million each would be worth about N728 million.
The petitioner therefore argued that if the vehicles were donations to Adeola’s campaign of such value, the contribution would exceed the maximum donation of $500 million permitted to an individual or entity under section 92(8) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The law provides that an individual or other entity shall not donate more than N500 million to a candidate. It separately sets the maximum election expenditure for a governorship candidate at N3 billion.
However, the petitioner’s assessment remains a statement that needs verification. The real market value of the vehicles, whether they were purchased specifically for the campaign, their ownership arrangements and how the transactions are legally characterized should be established by the relevant authorities.
...119 vehicles worth N3.3 billion?
The petitioner also raised doubts about the overall value of the 119 vehicles.
Using his benchmark of N28 million per vehicle, he calculated that the entire fleet could be worth about N3.33 billion.
He urged the EFCC to establish the actual commercial value of the vehicles and determine whether their acquisition and use constituted campaign expenditure or contributions for the purposes of the law.
The Electoral Act 2026 limits the election expenditure of a governorship candidate to N3 billion. The donation forecast, however, is separate from the candidate’s overall spending ceiling.
The distinction is significant because the value of the donated property does not, in itself, constitute a violation of either provision. Competent authorities should determine how the vehicles were acquired, accounted for and treated under campaign finance rules.
..Petitioner questions “dubbed” donors.
Shomorin also questioned the identity of some contributors listed in Adeola’s statement of appreciation.
Among the names mentioned were “Citiside Brother”, “Sanusi Friend”, “Olafem Citi Friend”, “Onaolapo Brother”, “OJ”, “Polanco”, “Elele Ijebu” and “Nafiu Abimbola & Friend”.
The petitioner requested the EFCC to establish the real identities and addresses of such contributors and to determine whether they were individuals, companies, groups or representatives of other persons or entities.
It also asked the commission to establish beneficial ownership of the vehicles, identify those who financed their acquisition and examine whether the funds came from illegal or undisclosed sources.
...What the law says
Under Section 92 of the Electoral Act 2026, the maximum expenditure by a governorship candidate is 3 billion naira, while an individual or other entity is prohibited from donating more than 500 million naira to a candidate.
The law also provides penalties for violations. A candidate who knowingly contravenes the election expenditure provisions may, if convicted, face a fine equivalent to 1% of the permitted spending limit, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. An individual who knowingly exceeds the donation limit may be liable to a fine of five times the amount donated over the prescribed limit.
The copy of the law published by the National Assembly confirms the governorate’s spending cap of $3 billion and the individual/entity donation limit of $500 million.
Adeola had described the vehicle donations as voluntary contributions by well-wishers and associates, saying the vehicles had been used for grassroots mobilization and sensitization across Ogun State.
However, at the time of filing the petition, there was no indication that the EFCC had announced the commencement of an investigation or made findings against Adeola, Armstrong, Dende or any other donor named in the petition.
The petition itself does not prove that any law has been violated.
Rather, it asked the anti-corruption agency to verify claims related to the donations, including the identity of the donors, ownership and value of the vehicles, sources of funding and compliance with Nigeria’s campaign finance and money laundering laws.
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