The Presidency has refuted claims by former African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, that he was offered three ministerial slots to abandon plans of converting the ADC into a coalition opposition party.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed the allegation on Wednesday via a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Nwosu had made the allegation during the ADC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, where the party formally transferred its leadership to former Senate President David Mark. He claimed that unnamed persons approached him with ministerial appointments as an incentive to derail the proposed opposition coalition.
In a sharp response, Bwala stated that only President Tinubu has the constitutional authority to offer ministerial positions, stressing that no official, regardless of rank, could make such promises.
“From his words as reported, you know he lied — that senior government officials under @officialABAT administration promised him three ministerial slots to abandon his party’s coalition move,” Bwala wrote.
“No government official of any rank can offer or guarantee ministerial appointments except the President. If such an offer were ever made, it would come directly from the President,” he said.
Bwala further challenged Nwosu to reveal the names of those who allegedly made the offer, questioning the credibility of the claim.
“The courage he had to claim he was approached should have been enough to name those involved,” he added.
Mocking the state of the ADC, Bwala said its members are “painfully graduating to the Association of Jesters or Association of Disorganised Characters.”
The exchange highlights ongoing political tensions as opposition parties explore alliances ahead of future elections.