Momodu Dismisses Claims of Delegate Bribery Ahead of ADC Presidential Primary

A leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has firmly rejected assertions that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will resort to bribing delegates with cash ahead of the party’s presidential primary election. The denial comes amid growing speculation about how Nigeria’s opposition formations will manage internal elections and maintain credibility in the run‑up to the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme on Thursday, Momodu, who is also the publisher of Ovation Magazine and a prominent ADC chieftain, sought to clarify the distinction between legitimate campaign funding and illicit inducements to secure delegate support. He emphasised that resources deployed in a political campaign are primarily used for logistics, organisation, and ensuring the integrity of electoral processes, rather than for offering bribes.

Momodu noted that the conversation about money in politics often blurs the line between necessary campaign expenditure and illegal bribery. “It’s not just about money. When we talk about money, there are logistics,” Momodu explained, adding that effective campaign financing is essential for operational tasks such as coordinating election day activities and safeguarding the votes and rights of supporters.

He drew comparisons with international elections to underline his point, referencing the 2024 United States presidential contest. Momodu highlighted that despite raising significant funds, former vice‑presidential candidate Kamala Harris did not secure an election victory, demonstrating that high campaign spending does not guarantee success or equate to corrupt practices.

Addressing specific rumours about Atiku Abubakar’s financial capacity, Momodu stressed that the former vice president does not wield control over public resources in the same way some politicians who lead state governments might. He noted that whereas governors like Bola Tinubu and certain others can leverage state apparatus and funds in ways that can be politically advantageous, Atiku’s post‑official life has been defined by private business pursuits rather than access to state coffers.

“Atiku is a businessman. He has been a businessman since he left office in 2007,” Momodu said. “He does not control any state in Nigeria. Asiwaju controls at least Lagos. I don’t know other states he controls personally, where he can do and undo. Wike controls Rivers.” This comparison was used to cast doubt on suggestions that Atiku could marshal “billions of dollars” to influence delegates through financial incentives.

Momodu went further to argue that strategic planning and organisational strength, rather than cash inflows, were pivotal to political victories. He cited Atiku’s success in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries against Nyesom Wike in 2022 as an example of where strategy and coalition building proved more decisive than sheer financial muscle.

The ADC chieftain’s remarks sought to reassure party stakeholders and the broader public that internal selection processes would prioritise fairness and competitiveness. His comments come at a time when Nigeria’s political landscape is marked by intense jockeying for influence across parties ahead of the country’s next general election cycle.

By characterising the allegations of bribery as unfounded and rooted in speculation rather than evidence, Momodu has sought to shift the narrative back toward issues of policy, organisational capacity and grassroots engagement as ADC prepares for its primary.