The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has strongly criticized the recently signed ₦698.6 billion state budget, describing it as a “Budget of Looting” rather than the “Budget of Recovery” as proclaimed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Gists9ja reports that the governor signed the 2025 Appropriation Act into law one week after its passage by the state House of Assembly. However, the opposition party has raised concerns over questionable allocations, demanding an investigation into what it calls “brazen looting.”
PDP Highlights Alleged Fraudulent Allocations
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, the PDP accused the government of misusing public funds, highlighting specific allocations as outrageous and unnecessary.
Key Controversial Budget Allocations:
- ₦200 million allocated for lawmakers’ expenses
- ₦280 million earmarked for the Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker’s “phone expenses”
- ₦11.5 billion assigned to the Ministry of Finance under “security vote”, raising concerns over accountability
The PDP questioned why the Ministry of Finance, which is not a security agency, received such a large “security vote”, separate from the governor’s own monthly security vote.
“Not even budget experts can explain the rationale for a ministry receiving a ‘security vote,’ which is distinct from what the governor himself collects monthly under the same subhead.”
The opposition party further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allocations, stating that such expenditures were clearly designed for looting state resources.
APC Defends Budget, Calls PDP’s Allegations Baseless
In response, the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the PDP’s allegations as misleading and politically motivated.
In a counter-statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the APC defended the budget, stating that it was designed to promote economic growth and development in the state.
“The allocations are in line with the state’s development priorities. The PDP’s claims are nothing more than an attempt to discredit the administration out of bitterness for losing the last governorship election.”
While the PDP insists on an anti-corruption probe, the APC maintains that the budget is legitimate and essential for governance. The controversy is expected to spark further political tensions in Ondo State as scrutiny over government spending intensifies.
