Controversy Erupts Over Alleged Misappropriation of Kola-Nut Donations at Delta South APC Meeting

Tensions have arisen within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta South following allegations of misappropriation of over $50,000 in kola-nut donations during a recent unity and stakeholders meeting. Reliable sources told Nigeria News 247 that the funds were allegedly hijacked by party leadership in collaboration with some former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials who recently defected to the APC.

The expanded meeting took place on Friday in Oleh, the headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area, and brought together members of the now-defunct PDP, dissolved PDP state executives, APC members, and key federal and state government appointees from the senatorial district. Discussions focused on party unity, peace, and preparations for the 2027 general elections.

It was gathered that over ₦200 million in donations, contributed in both naira and US dollars, was raised during the event as the traditional kola-nut offering—a symbolic gesture of goodwill and unity.

However, controversy broke out over the distribution of these funds. Some attendees expressed frustration, describing the sharing process as “fraudulent, corrupt, and stealing.” An anonymous former APC aspirant at the meeting lamented the alleged hijacking of the $50,000 kola-nut donation by party leaders in conjunction with ex-PDP officials from the district.

He criticized the disbursement, saying, “Out of the ₦200 million collected, only ₦72 million was shared among the eight local government areas, at ₦9 million each. What happened to the rest? This is blatant theft.”

Another former House of Assembly member, who also requested anonymity, accused the APC and former PDP leaders from the district of pocketing all the dollar donations. He detailed that Chief Matthew Tonlagha, an Ijaw businessman not present at the meeting, donated $30,000, with other Ijaw contributors adding roughly $10,000 more. Additional donations of $5,000, $4,000, and $2,000 were also made by other individuals, separate from the ₦200 million raised in naira.

“These dollars were allegedly shared among party leaders and ex-PDP executives. Is that not corruption?” he questioned.

When contacted about the allegations, APC State Chairman Omeni Sobotie responded, “This is very strange, you can ask the senatorial chairman.”

Despite the controversy, the meeting, chaired by Sobotie, saw Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas representing Delta South senatorial district commend members for their unity and strategic planning. The Senator moved a motion, seconded by former Senator James Manager, endorsing President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as the party’s sole candidates for the 2027 elections. The motion was unanimously approved.