A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has dismissed suggestions that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will use dollars to bribe delegates ahead of the party’s presidential primary, Momodu said on Thursday.
He made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Morning Brief’ programme while addressing questions about the ADC’s internal preparations for its primary election.
Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, said the use of money in campaigns should not be confused with bribery.
He explained that funds are mainly needed for logistics, election day security and polling booth management, but not to induce delegates to vote for a particular candidate.
“It’s not just about money. When we talk about money, there are logistics. We’re not talking about bribing,” he said, emphasising that credible campaigns require funds to ensure orderly conduct and protection of votes on election day.
Momodu also cited the 2024 United States presidential election to illustrate that raising large sums of money does not guarantee victory. He noted that despite substantial funds raised by some candidates, financial resources alone do not determine election outcomes.
On Atiku’s financial capacity, Momodu said the former vice president does not control state resources like some other political figures might. “Atiku is a businessman. He has been a businessman since he left power in 2007. He does not control any state in Nigeria,” he said.
He contrasted this with other political figures he said do command influence over states, citing examples without naming specific individuals, to highlight differences in political resources and reach.
Momodu said the strategy that helped Atiku win the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary in 2022 against a strong rival was planning and political skill, not financial inducement. He added that speculation about billions of dollars for delegate bribery was unfounded.
The ADC primary is set amid broader political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with high profile politicians, including Atiku and other former party leaders, positioning themselves within new party platforms.
Party officials have also clarified that no automatic presidential ticket is guaranteed for any aspirant, and that a competitive and transparent process will be followed, with internal mechanisms to support fairness.
Observers say the dynamics of campaign financing and internal party democracy will remain central to how candidates build support ahead of the national contest, even as speculation circulates about how internal primaries will unfold across parties.
