|By Adejumo Adekunle
…ADC founder warns APC to steer clear of party affairs
…Presidential aide fires back, calls him an ‘egregious liar’
The pioneer chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Raph Nwosu, has alleged that forces within President Bola Tinubu’s government attempted to bribe him to compromise the party’s independence—but he insists he will not budge.
In a fiery interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, Nwosu claimed unnamed individuals linked to the presidency approached him with offers in a bid to “buy him over.” Though he declined to disclose the identities of those involved, he warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to stay away from ADC’s internal affairs.
“I sent the last signal to them… If they don’t stay off, we are compelling them,” Nwosu said. “No inducement can stop ADC. What I did at our NEC meeting was to send a signal so that the presidency understands we are not for sale.”
According to him, covert legal attacks, surveillance, and political pressure are being used to destabilize the party. “They have used people to go to court to stop our activities. We know where they are, we have pictures,” he added.
Nwosu reiterated that the ADC is building momentum and will remain steadfast despite mounting pressure. “I have meetings, not only here in Nigeria… I have a call. A couple of days.”
Earlier reports quoted Nwosu as saying he turned down “billions” offered to endorse the new opposition coalition, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and others.
In reaction, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissed Nwosu’s allegations, branding him “an egregious liar.” He challenged Nwosu to disclose the exact amount he allegedly received from Atiku in exchange for selling out the party.
“Let him name the amount and who paid him,” Onanuga said. “People should stop blackmailing the presidency to score cheap points.”
Meanwhile, internal chaos appears to be brewing within the ADC itself. A fresh leadership tussle emerged Thursday as Gombe-born politician Nafiu Bala declared himself interim national chairman, following the opposition coalition’s earlier appointment of former Senate President David Mark to the same position.
With the 2027 elections looming, Nwosu’s revelations and the unfolding crisis could reshape the narrative around opposition unity and party loyalty in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
