Presidency’s Silence Confirms Ministers Bought Appointments – ADC

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the Presidency of failing to address allegations that ministers paid billions of naira to secure their appointments.

It argued that the administration’s silence has raised further questions about its commitment to transparency.

This was just as the council also urged Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election, warning that another four years under the ruling party would worsen economic hardship, poverty and insecurity.

The ADC-PCC made the remarks in response to comments by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who denied allegations that ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s administration paid to secure their positions.

Morka had defended the administration following remarks by Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, who alleged that some ministers paid billions of naira to obtain their appointments and later sought to recover the money after assuming office.

In a statement issued on Thursday 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 APC is not honest with Nigerians. If the party has nothing to say, it should keep quiet and stop this deception. The confession attributed to Alwan Hassan is patriotic, and its unmistakable target was the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

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.

“There is so much corruption going on around this government. Ministries are not functioning, directorates are not functioning, and agencies are in the same dire straits. Nigeria is comatose. APC has failed woefully,” Ologbondiyan said.

He 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.

“They came into power without blueprints. In the last three and a half years, there is nothing except unfulfilled promises,” he added.

Ologbondiyan 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 ADC-PCC maintained that the Presidency should publicly clarify Hassan’s comments rather than allow the controversy to persist.

“Till this moment, the Presidency has not denied its spokesperson’s confession to Nigerians. That silence is 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,” he said.

The council also raised concerns about alleged financial inducements in public sector recruitment, claiming that employment opportunities in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were being sold to the highest bidders.

It called for a transparent explanation of the allegations and appropriate investigations wherever evidence of wrongdoing exists.

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.

Speaking on Wednesday, the APC spokesman said he had spoken privately with Hassan, who allegedly clarified that his remarks referred to practices predating the current administration.

Morka said Hassan had explained that he was discussing the issue in a historical context rather than making allegations against the Tinubu government.

“Since that interview, I have had a moment to speak with Alwan to also just, out of curiosity, understand what he was thinking when he made those comments. He explained that what he was referring to was not really about this administration, but he was speaking in a historical context,” Morka said.