ABUJA, Nigeria — Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed allegations by Ralph Nwosu, the former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), that he was offered three ministerial positions to derail the party’s opposition activities.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Bwala insisted that only President Tinubu has the constitutional authority to offer or appoint ministers, not any other government official.
“No government official(s) of whatever rank in our government can promise or grant ministerial slots but Mr President,” Bwala said.
“If a promise of ministerial slots would be made to Mr Nwosu, it would be made by the president and to him directly.”
The denial comes a day after Nwosu, during the ADC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, claimed that unnamed individuals attempted to induce him to abandon the ADC’s transformation into an opposition coalition with promises of ministerial slots.
The Tuesday, July 29, 2025 meeting also marked the formal handover of party leadership to former Senate President David Mark.
Nwosu’s explosive claim had added fuel to ongoing speculation about political pressure tactics allegedly being employed to stifle opposition momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
But Bwala, in a scathing rebuttal, questioned the credibility of the allegations and mocked the ADC’s internal dynamics.
“From his words as reported, you know that he lied,” Bwala said.
“The same courage he mustered saying he was promised slots by the officials could have been used in mentioning their names and positions in this government.”
“They are painfully graduating to association of jesters or Association of Disorganised Characters,” he added, referring to the ADC leadership.
The ADC has recently taken centre stage in an emerging opposition alliance that includes political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir el-Rufai.
Nwosu has positioned the ADC as a central force in the movement, claiming the party turned down multimillion-naira inducements to withdraw from the coalition.
During Tuesday, July 29, 2025’s NEC meeting, Nwosu had declared: “Our party, the ADC, stood firm. And Nigerians embraced us for that. Some politicians believe it’s all about money… but we said, No. We rejected every offer, both in Nigeria and abroad, over the past year.”
So far, Nwosu has not provided names of the alleged officials involved in the offer.
Meanwhile, the ADC’s new leadership under David Mark has vowed to build a party of inclusion, transparency, and ideological clarity, positioning itself as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s shifting political landscape.
