PDP accuses FG of pre-election vote buying

The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos state yesterday faulted the tradermoni empowerment programme of the Federal Government disbursed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in some markets on Monday, describing it as “pre-election vote-buying”.

The party, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Taofik Gani, said Osinbajo’s visit to the markets to distribute the N10, 000 to traders would not bolster the electoral fortune of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Gani alleged that the tradermoni empowerment was“tainted with intent to buy the conscience of the traders to vote APC in the state”.

He also condemned Osinbajo’s recent visit to African Shrine, saying it was reflective of the ruling party’s desperation to garner votes by all means possible.

He said Osinbajo was not known to be a fan of African shrine and it was not on record that he had ever associated with the shrine founded by the late Afro legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

He added that Osinbajo was only “running helter-skelter to visit shrine for want of vote”.

Osinbajo had on Monday witnessed the disbursement of the money to petty traders in Ketu, Bariga and Oshodi market where he disclosed that the scheme had so far given N10,000 collateral and interest-free loans to 809,000 beneficiaries.