By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to respond to an allegation attributed to his campaign spokesperson, Alwan Hassan, that some ministers in his administration allegedly paid to secure their appointments and were seeking to recover their investments.
The ADC-PCC said the allegation, reportedly made during a live television programme, raised serious questions about the integrity of ministerial appointments, accountability in government and the circumstances surrounding the selection of members of the Federal Executive Council.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council said Hassan was reported to have stated that some ministers paid money to secure their positions and were now focused on recovering what they allegedly invested before turning their attention to governance.
The council said: “If substantiated, such an allegation would represent a grave indictment of the process through which public offices are filled and the principles of public service. It is particularly troubling that the allegation is attributed to a figure associated with the President’s political camp.”
The ADC-PCC insisted that Nigerians deserved a clear and unequivocal response from the Presidency, adding that “an allegation of this magnitude cannot simply be ignored or dismissed without a transparent explanation.”
It further stated: “The allegation, if established, would suggest that ministerial appointments were treated as private investments rather than positions of public trust. It would also raise concerns about whether decisions affecting millions of Nigerians are being influenced by the personal financial interests of those entrusted with public responsibility.
“At a time when Nigerians are grappling with rising living costs, insecurity, pressure on household incomes and persistent economic difficulties, the country cannot afford uncertainty over the integrity and priorities of those occupying its highest public offices.”
The campaign council also questioned the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, asking whether the interests of ordinary Nigerians were receiving the attention they deserved.
“Public office is a responsibility, not a commercial transaction. Ministerial appointments must be guided by competence, integrity and a commitment to national service—not by financial inducements or expectations of private returns,” the ADC-PCC stressed.
