Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Agency chief says personal funds bought over N500m in vehicles for APC campaign

Faruk Enabo, the head of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, disclosed that he personally funded a substantial vehicle gift for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State to support Governor Nasir Idris's 2027 re-election campaign. The package, delivered last week, comprised 225 motorcycles, 60 saloon cars and two jeeps, which were distributed to APC leaders, ward chairmen, senators, members of the House of Representatives and other party officials across the state.

Enabo told a Leadership newspaper reporter that the items were bought with money he saved from contracts awarded by Governor Idris and other friends, as well as from his own business activities abroad. He stressed that no funds from the Pilgrims Welfare Agency or the state government were used, rejecting rumours that the N10 billion allocated to the agency for the 2026 Hajj had been diverted.

Background

The donation arrives as the APC prepares for the 2027 gubernatorial election in Kebbi State. The Electoral Act 2026 caps individual contributions to a candidate at N500 million and imposes a fine of five times the excess amount for violations. Market estimates place the 60 cars at a minimum of N360 million (assuming N6 million per car) and the 225 motorcycles at about N337.5 million (N1.5 million each), pushing the total well beyond the statutory limit.

In his remarks, Enabo referred to contracts he secured from Kaura Gwandu and other associates, while also highlighting his standing as a businessman with operations both within the country and abroad. He also disclosed the agency’s recent Hajj finances: N27.9 billion collected from pilgrims, N25.7 billion remitted to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, with the remaining balance covering basic travel allowances and local operational costs.

Legal commentators, including lawyer Kabiru Bala, have called for anti‑graft agencies to investigate whether the donations breach the Electoral Act, noting that Section 88(8) prohibits contributions exceeding N500 million and Section 88(10) prescribes severe penalties for knowingly breaching the limit.

Why it matters

The scale of the donation raises concerns about the influence of public office holders in electoral politics and the potential misuse of personal wealth to sway party structures. If the contributions are deemed to exceed the legal cap, Enabo could face a fine of up to five times the excess amount, as stipulated by the Electoral Act. The issue also touches on the transparency of the Pilgrims Welfare Agency’s finances, given the agency’s handling of billions of naira for the Hajj pilgrimage.

Stakeholders affected include APC candidates in Kebbi, voters who may question the fairness of the campaign, and anti‑corruption bodies tasked with enforcing electoral finance rules. Lawyers have urged the Independent Electoral Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to examine the transactions and ensure compliance.

What happens next

The Electoral Act provides that individuals who knowingly exceed the donation limit are liable to prosecution. Lawyers cited in the Daily Trust report have asked anti‑graft agencies to open investigations into Enabo’s contributions. No official response from the Independent Electoral Commission or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been recorded at the time of reporting. Enabo’s clarification to the media may be examined as part of any forthcoming inquiry.

The matter remains open, with potential legal proceedings pending depending on the outcomes of any investigations launched by the relevant authorities.