Dele Momodu Regrets Spending ₦50 Million on PDP Nomination Form, Decries Monetized Primaries

Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine and a 2022 presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed regret over spending approximately ₦50 million on the party’s presidential nomination form.

In a recent interview on Eden Oasis, Momodu described the 2022 PDP primary as excessively monetized, revealing that one aspirant allegedly distributed $30,000 to each of the 774 delegates who participated in the election.

The journalist and politician lamented the pervasive influence of money in Nigeria’s political system and stated that he would only consider running for president again if adopted as a consensus candidate.

“Experience is the best teacher. I have realized that there are powers—principalities, if you will—that control Nigeria,” Momodu said.

“Unless a major political party adopts me through a consensus of people who believe Dele Momodu is the best candidate to lead and change Nigeria, I would not consider running again. But if I have to spend my own money to buy a nomination form—about ₦100 million now—I won’t do it. I spent ₦50 million last time, and it was a waste.”

Reflecting on the financial burden, Momodu remarked, “That ₦50 million could have bought me a property. It was a waste. I didn’t get even one vote because everything was monetized.”

He also underscored the overwhelming financial influence of certain aspirants, saying, “One of the candidates paid as much as $30,000 per delegate across 774 delegates. How do you compete with that? These individuals have drained the country, engaging in shady deals, particularly in oil-rich regions.”