President Muhammadu Buhari has said that no government money will be used by his administration for the campaign to return him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to power in the coming elections.
A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, said that speaking at the close of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Buhari directed cabinet ministers to take advantage of technology to reach out to voters on the need to return the APC-led administration in next month’s general elections.
“As political parties spread their ideologies and views to every nook and corner of the country, the issue of cash payment to voters and its corrupting influence in electioneering has once again become a topical issue.
“Try and use text and multi-media messages to seek votes for the party and government.
‘‘There is no money from the treasury for use in the campaigns. I will not authorise that,” he said.
President Buhari declared that the APC-led administration has a clear development agenda best suited to take Nigeria forward and sustain economic development.
‘‘This message needs to be taken to all Nigerians but we cannot use money from the treasury to share out to prospective voters.
‘‘Nigerians want change and we alone can deliver that change. Our people can no longer be swayed by money politics,’’ he said.
The President also used the occasion, which was a valedictory session for the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, to wish the minister success in her electoral contest.
The Minister had signified her desire to leave the cabinet, in line with existing regulations, to run for a legislative seat in her native Yobe State.