Majority in Parliament rejects claims of World Cup travel slot allocations

The Majority Caucus in Parliament has dismissed allegations that its members were granted special travel privileges, including two slots each, to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the claims as misleading and capable of causing unnecessary tension in the House.

The controversy stems from accusations by the Minority Caucus, which alleged that Majority MPs had been allocated two travel slots per member, while constituencies were given three slots for the tournament. The Minority argued that the arrangement amounted to an uneven and preferential distribution of access linked to the global event.

The Majority, however, has strongly denied the allegations, insisting that no such allocations were made to MPs or constituencies.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, June 17, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor said the government was not funding MPs’ attendance at the tournament and had not issued any travel slots to lawmakers.

“Nobody was given two slots,” he said. “The government announced that they were not sponsoring anybody apart from the established national supporters’ union to the World Cup.”

He cautioned that the claims were misleading and risked aggravating tensions in Parliament, stressing that MPs had not been granted any special privileges.