Buhari Is Using Government Resources For His Campaign, Atiku Alleges

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is making use of state resources for campaign purposes.

Abubakar released his evidence of how state resources have been used for Buhari’s reelection campaign.

However, the president on Wednesday said he would not permit the use of public funds for the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign.

Paul Ibe, spokesman to Atiku Abubakar in a statement issued on his behalf, cited alleged instances where the federal ministry of information and culture has been producing “campaign materials” for the president and the APC.

“In negation of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the Buhari administration and the APC has taken to the illegal deployment of state resources to its advantage for the election,” the statement issued on Thursday read.

“We wish to remind President Buhari and the APC that the use of state videos released by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is illegal under the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

“The media is awash with advertisements with the hashtag #PMBDIDIT and signed by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and referencing so-called achievements of the APC administration in the states of Abia, Kwara, Lagos, Ebonyi, Delta and Kano, among others.

“These are without doubt 2019 presidential campaign materials produced by the Ministry of Information and Culture using state resources and apparatuses to benefit President Buhari. (See attached videos).”

Atiku noted that the videos produced by the federal ministry of information violate section 100 of the electoral act, 2010.

The section reads: “A candidate and his party shall campaign for the elections in accordance with such rules and regu lations as may be determi ned by the Commission. (2) State apparatus including the media shal l n ot be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.”

The PDP candidate demanded that “INEC issues an immediate cease and desist order to both the ministry of information and culture and to the broadcast channels running it”.

Below are links to the said videos: