The founder and pioneer National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has revealed details of alleged meetings and inducement attempts by officials of President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at frustrating the opposition coalition being built around the ADC.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, Nwosu declared that the party would not yield to pressure, no matter how intense, insisting that “no inducement can stop ADC.”
He alleged that offers, including ministerial slots, had been made by representatives of the presidency in an effort to lure party leaders into abandoning the coalition effort.
While refusing to name specific individuals, Nwosu affirmed that both meetings and phone calls had taken place.
“What I’ve said wouldn’t be new to any national party chairman… I just deliberately sent that signal. And if they don’t stay off, we are compelling them.”
He also accused government-backed elements of infiltrating the party and filing court cases to stall its progress.
“They have gone to court claiming disagreement with our actions, and they are being protected,” he said, adding that such persons now ride in SUVs and lodge in expensive hotels—benefits he claimed true ADC leaders could not afford.
Responding to the presidency’s denial through its spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, Nwosu maintained that there were deliberate efforts to undermine the ADC-led coalition, warning that such interference was dangerous for Nigeria’s democratic development.
“There are people in APC who feel that if we offer this, and they feel it’s too small, we just up it… But this time they failed,” he said.