A coalition of 23 civil society organisations has accused the Kano State Government of using public resources to strengthen the political fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the disbursement of ₦100 million and the allocation of 1,540 plots of public land to grassroots party leaders amount to electoral bribery ahead of future elections.
In a strongly worded statement, the coalition described the alleged distribution of cash and land as a dangerous abuse of state power, insisting that public assets should never be deployed to advance partisan interests.
According to the groups, the move violates both constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act 2022, warning that it undermines democratic principles and erodes public confidence in governance.
“The disbursement of ₦100 million and the allocation of 1,540 plots of public land to APC grassroots leaders is not merely a political manoeuvre; it is a direct assault on the legal foundations of our state,” the coalition declared.
The organisations argued that the use of government funds and public land to reward political actors could amount to electoral inducement, stressing that such actions threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
They further alleged that rather than allowing political parties to compete on policies and performance, the administration was relying on state-sponsored patronage to consolidate its political structure.
“By weaponising ₦100 million and 1,540 plots of public land to entrench APC grassroots machinery, the administration has abandoned the contest of ideas in favour of state-sponsored patronage,” the statement added.
The coalition called on the Kano State Government to immediately suspend the alleged allocations and urged the Kano State House of Assembly to launch a full investigation into the source of the funds and the criteria used in selecting beneficiaries.
It also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the matter as a possible breach of the Electoral Act 2022 and demanded that the government publish the complete list of beneficiaries in the interest of transparency and accountability.
The statement was jointly endorsed by 23 civil society organisations and advocacy groups, including Wuro Development Concerns (WDCN), Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN), African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD), Youth and Environmental Development Association (YEDA), Joint Action Front (JAF), United Action for Democracy (UAD), Campaign for Democracy (CD), Centre for Legal Orientation and Humanitarian Aid (CELOHA), Rule of Law and Justice Advancement Network (ROLJAN), Centre for Education, Health and Entrepreneurship Development (CEHED), Kano Youth Integrity Forum, Voice of Concerned Teachers’ Forum, Centre for Gender and Social Inclusion (CAGSI), alongside several other youth, governance and human rights organisations operating across Kano State.
The allegations have yet to receive an official response from the Kano State Government.