The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed suggestions that ministers serving under President Bola Tinubu paid billions of naira to secure their appointments, insisting that a controversial remark by one of its campaign officials referred to previous administrations.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, gave the clarification during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, saying the comments by Alwan Hassan had been misinterpreted as an accusation against the current government.
Hassan, a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, had sparked controversy after alleging during a television interview that some ministers pay huge sums to obtain government appointments and subsequently seek to recover their money after assuming office.
He made the remarks while defending Tinubu’s approach to managing government revenue and expenditure, arguing that the President’s direct involvement in spending decisions had helped oversee public finances.
However, his comments triggered widespread reactions, with critics demanding an explanation over whether financial inducements were influencing ministerial appointments.
Speaking in response, Morka said Hassan was discussing what he described as historical practices under previous administrations, rather than making allegations against members of Tinubu’s cabinet.
According to him, the remarks lacked sufficient distinction between different periods of government, creating room for misinterpretation.
Morka maintained that appointments under the Tinubu administration were based on merit, competence and the ability to deliver results, rather than financial payments.
He urged Nigerians to disregard claims suggesting that ministers in the current government paid money to secure their positions.
Controversy Over Alleged Payments
Hassan’s original remarks have continued to generate political debate, particularly over the absence of specific names, figures or evidence to substantiate the alleged payments.
The APC official had argued that the practice was not limited to one political party, claiming that ministers had been implicated in corruption under successive administrations.
However, he did not identify any minister allegedly involved in the purported transactions or disclose who received the money.
The controversy has prompted calls from opposition figures for an investigation into the allegations.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council have urged the President to establish the facts surrounding the claim and determine whether any financial inducements were involved in ministerial appointments.
The ADC also called on anti-corruption agencies to investigate any credible evidence relating to the allegations.
APC Defends Tinubu’s Appointment Process
Morka’s clarification represents the party’s effort to separate Hassan’s remarks from the current administration, insisting that the comments were intended to describe alleged practices from the past.
The issue has renewed discussions about transparency in political appointments, campaign financing and accountability in public office as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
For now, the allegation remains unsubstantiated, with no specific minister or recipient of the purported payments publicly identified.
