The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has responded to the All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman, Felix Morka's, criticism of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's recently named campaign council members. The ADC described Morka's attack as a "grubby attempt to conduct a trial by insult." Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the ADC, explained the decision to appoint former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as Deputy Chairman of Atiku's 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
Morka had criticized the constitution of the ADC presidential campaign council, labeling it "dead on arrival of political dead woods." However, the ADC's Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, issued a statement saying Morka's insults failed to address Nigerians' concerns about the rising costs of food, fuel, transport, and electricity. Shaibu accused Morka of being an "untutored spin doctor" for a party struggling with a "sinking regime."
The ADC campaign council also responded to Morka's warning that Atiku should be kept away from the national treasury. Shaibu pointed out that this warning came from a party whose president, Bola Tinubu, was involved in a United States forfeiture case related to narcotics trafficking allegations. The case resulted in the forfeiture of $460,000 from an account in Tinubu's name.
According to the ADC, Tinubu's court record revealed a complex financial trail, including an alleged heroin network, aliases, wire transfers, and accounts across multiple banks and relatives. The affidavit filed in a US federal court described specific connections, including a transfer of $80,000 linked to Adegboyega Mueez Akande, who introduced Tinubu to First Heritage Bank.
The ADC campaign council also highlighted the involvement of Tinubu's wife, Oluremi Tinubu, in the banking records. The affidavit allegedly showed that she held a joint checking account with her husband and had previously held another joint account with Audrey Akande, the wife of the major narcotics suspect, Adegboyega Mueez Akande.
The ADC argued that Tinubu's financial past raised questions about his eligibility to hold public office. Shaibu stated that the President could not dismiss a documented financial trail by pretending Nigerians had no right to ask where it led. The council maintained that Morka's criticism was an attempt to distract from the real issues facing the country.
A US federal court ruled in 2025 that the Department of Justice had the authority to forfeit assets linked to Tinubu's alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking. The ADC campaign council believes that this ruling and the evidence presented in the affidavit raise serious concerns about Tinubu's integrity and fitness for office.
Key points
- The ADC campaign council criticized the APC's response to Atiku's campaign council, citing Tinubu's past financial controversies.
- The ADC highlighted the involvement of Tinubu's wife, Oluremi Tinubu, in the banking records related to the alleged narcotics trafficking case.
- A US federal court ruled in 2025 that the Department of Justice had the authority to forfeit assets linked to Tinubu's alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking.
