Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The immediate past National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has revealed that he was offered three ministerial slots as an inducement to reject a coalition with key political figures from other platforms.
Speaking at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, Nwosu said the offer was aimed at derailing efforts to form a united political front ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, he declined to name those behind the move.
“I was approached with promises of automatic ministerial appointments,” he said.
“They offered me three slots—one for myself and two for persons of my choosing—but I said no. I chose a democratic future for Nigeria.”
Nwosu described the attempted inducement as part of a larger plot to thwart the emergence of a viable opposition and entrench a one-party state.
“There is a desperation to silence the opposition,” he warned. “Nigeria cannot afford to become a one-party state after all we did to end military rule.”
At the meeting, Nwosu formally handed over leadership of the party to former Senate President, Senator David Mark, who was named National Chairman. Former Osun State Governor and one-time ally of President Bola Tinubu, Rauf Aregbesola, was also announced as the party’s new National Secretary.
The NEC meeting brought together major stakeholders from various opposition platforms under a new coalition designed to challenge President Tinubu’s re-election bid. ADC had earlier, on July 2, 2025, been officially adopted as the political platform for the coalition.
According to Nwosu, the transition process was observed by seven officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who attended as regulatory witnesses.
“The ADC now has the largest membership base in Nigeria. We currently have 28 senators and over 60 members of the House of Representatives,” he said. “Nigerians have shown they reject what the ruling party stands for.”
He also disclosed that both the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and NEC members voluntarily stepped down to allow for a seamless leadership transition.
“We were very deliberate about the kind of leaders we wanted,” he said. “Our constitution stipulates that all elected members—serving or not—are NEC members.”
Nwosu added that the party’s membership surged to over three million within two weeks of announcing the coalition, reflecting growing public disillusionment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We insisted on the coalition because Nigeria’s democracy is under threat. The APC has reversed the nation’s progress, but they will be defeated in 2027,” he predicted.
