Presidency reacts to alleged ministerial bribe offer to ex-ADC chairman

The Presidency has denied reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration offered ministerial appointments to Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to stop the party from joining an opposition coalition.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Tinubu, described the claim as “false and baseless” in a statement posted on Wednesday via his X account.

Nwosu had, during the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, alleged that the government approached him with an offer of three ministerial positions, one for himself and two for his nominees, in exchange for backing out of plans to reposition the ADC as a platform for opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bwala, however, insisted no government official, no matter the rank, can offer ministerial slots except the President himself.

“From his words as reported, you know that he lied,” Bwala said. “No government official(s) in our administration can promise or grant ministerial slots but Mr. President.”

He challenged Nwosu to publicly name the officials allegedly involved.

“The same courage he mustered in saying he was promised slots should have been used to mention names,” he added.

Bwala went further to describe the current state of the ADC as “an association of jesters or disorganised characters.”