The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has accused the Presidency of failing to address allegations that ministers paid billions of naira to secure their appointments. The council argued that the administration's silence has raised further questions about its commitment to transparency. This comes after comments by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who denied allegations that ministers in President Bola Tinubu's administration paid to secure their positions.
The allegations were initially made by Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, who claimed that some ministers paid billions of naira to obtain their appointments and later sought to recover the money after assuming office. The ADC-PCC made the remarks in response to Morka's denial, urging Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general election. The council warned that another four years under the ruling party would worsen economic hardship, poverty, and insecurity.
In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC-PCC accused the ruling party of attempting to divert attention from the allegations rather than provide Nigerians with clear answers. Ologbondiyan described Hassan's remarks as a serious indictment of the administration, arguing that the allegations raised concerns about the credibility of ministerial appointments under Tinubu.
The ADC-PCC spokesman also accused the federal government of presiding over widespread corruption and institutional decline, alleging that ministries, directorates, and government agencies were failing to perform their responsibilities effectively. Ologbondiyan claimed that there was so much corruption going on around the government, with ministries, directorates, and agencies in dire straits.
Ologbondiyan further faulted the Tinubu administration for what he described as unfulfilled promises, arguing that Nigerians had endured years of economic difficulties without corresponding improvements in governance. He added that the administration had come into power without blueprints, and in the last three and a half years, there was nothing except unfulfilled promises.
The ADC-PCC also questioned the implementation of federal budgets under the current administration, alleging that the government had failed to fully execute its budgets over the past three years. The council maintained that the Presidency should publicly clarify Hassan's comments rather than allow the controversy to persist. The silence from the Presidency was seen as confirmation of the fact revealed by Tinubu's spokesperson that ministers appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are recouping the money they paid for appointments.
The ADC-PCC urged Nigerians to use the 2027 general election to hold the APC accountable, insisting that the country needed a change in leadership to tackle economic hardship, rising poverty, and insecurity. However, Morka had categorically denied that ministers serving under Tinubu paid billions of naira to secure their appointments, insisting that they were selected based on competence.
Key points
- The ADC-PCC accuses the Presidency of failing to address allegations of ministerial appointment corruption.
- The administration's silence raises concerns about its commitment to transparency.
- The ADC-PCC urges Nigerians to vote out the APC in the 2027 general election.
