Renowned publisher and politician Dele Momodu has opened up about the extent of monetization during the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary, disclosing that one aspirant paid $30,000 to each of the 774 delegates. Speaking on the Key to Keys podcast, Momodu expressed frustration over the heavily monetized process, lamenting the futility of spending nearly ₦50 million on a presidential nomination form.
Momodu described the primary as a stark reflection of Nigeria’s flawed political system, where money, rather than competence, often determines leadership outcomes. He revealed, “There was one of the candidates who paid as high as $30,000 per delegate. How do you compete with that? These individuals control raw cash, largely untraceable, making it impossible for honest politicians to compete.”
Highlighting the systemic corruption and financial dominance in Nigerian politics, he criticized the use of illicit funds, particularly from oil-rich regions, to manipulate elections. Momodu added, “There is no country in the world where people control raw cash like Nigeria. If today you ask some politicians to raise $500 million for a presidential bid, they will find it.”
The Ovation Magazine publisher also ruled out running for any party’s presidential ticket in the future unless adopted as a consensus candidate. “I have come to realize that there are principalities controlling Nigeria’s political space. Unless a major party decides to adopt me as the consensus candidate, I will not waste my resources again.”
Momodu’s revelations have reignited debates about the role of money in Nigerian politics and the urgent need for electoral reforms to ensure fair competition and merit-based leadership.
