BY: Sonaike Peter
Claim:
A WhatsApp broadcast claimed that the All Progressive Congress(APC) is sharing #40,000 as a campaign giveaway.
Verdict:
False! There is no evidence substantiating the claim that the All Progressive Congress is sharing #40,000 as an avenue to solicit for votes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Full Text:
A WhatsApp broadcast claimed that the All Progressive Congress, the ruling party in Nigeria, is sharing #40,000 to each interested Nigerian in exchange of prospective votes.
The broadcast, as observed by FactCheckAfrica, requires interested applicants to provide their bank account details through the link provided.
“The All Progressive Congress (APC) is giving out Instant free N40,000 Naira as part of 2027 campaign for all Nigerians,” the broadcast reads.
After applicants must have submitted their bank account details, they are required to share the broadcast message to 5 friends or 15 groups.
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica’s findings reveal that the claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is offering ₦40,000 to prospective voters in exchange for support in the 2027 general elections is false. No credible media outlet has reported the alleged development, and no official APC statement confirms the claim.
The broadcast’s request for applicants to submit bank details via a link and share the message with five friends or 15 WhatsApp groups raises suspicions of phishing and the unauthorised collection of personal and financial information.
These features are consistent with tactics commonly used in fraudulent giveaway schemes.
The claim can also be assessed against Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026. Section 125 criminalises bribery and conspiracy involving the corrupt offer or acceptance of money, gifts or other benefits to influence votes.
Similarly, Section 131 prohibits the corrupt payment or acceptance of money intended to influence a person’s voting decision after an election has been announced. Offenders face a fine of ₦500,000, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both.
Conclusion:
The claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is offering ₦40,000 to prospective voters in exchange for their votes is false, as no credible evidence supports it.
No reputable media outlet has reported the alleged vote-buying scheme, and the party has issued no official statement confirming the claim. The claim is therefore false and misleading.
