APC spokesman alleges ministers paid billions for appointments, sparking political crisis

The All Progressives Congress (APC) faces intensified scrutiny following allegations that senior government officials paid substantial sums to secure their positions. Alwan Hassan, the spokesperson for the ruling party’s Presidential Campaign Council, stated that several ministers paid billions of naira to obtain appointments. According to Hassan, these officials subsequently sought to recover their initial investments while in office. The former vice president and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has openly urged President Tinubu to reveal the names of the implicated ministers and the individuals who allegedly received the bribes.

The comments triggered immediate political backlash, particularly as they coincided with the official launch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Kaduna on Saturday. Opposition figures have responded by demanding specific names, documentary evidence, and accountability regarding the alleged payments. The controversy has placed corruption and governance at the center of the political debate surrounding the administration’s performance and integrity.

Background

Alwan Hassan defended the administration’s record by asserting that the alleged practice of paying for appointments is a systemic issue that predates the current government. He stated that the phenomenon is not unique to APC ministers and began before the party assumed power. Hassan further alleged that President Tinubu had deliberately withheld budgetary funds from various ministries. According to the spokesperson, this decision was driven by concerns that ministers might use the allocated funds to recoup the money they allegedly spent to secure their appointments.

Despite the severity of the claims, Hassan did not identify any specific minister who paid for an appointment, nor did he name any individual who received the payments. This lack of specific evidence has left the allegations unsubstantiated in public records. The APC has responded to the growing pressure by characterizing the claims as being blown out of proportion, attempting to mitigate the damage to the party’s image ahead of the upcoming elections.

Why it matters

The allegations have significant implications for the credibility of the ruling party and the broader political landscape in Nigeria. These comments were delivered on the Prime Time show on Arise Television on Thursday, October 22, 2026, while the government readies itself for the upcoming 2027 general elections. Abubakar argued that since the President appointed the ministers, he is in a position to reveal who received the money. He emphasized that the Nigerian public deserves names rather than silence, highlighting the demand for transparency in public office.

The timing of these revelations, occurring just as the re-election campaign begins, intensifies the stakes for the APC. The party must now navigate a narrative that includes internal admissions of corruption while simultaneously campaigning on a platform of good governance. The opposition is leveraging these statements to question the administration’s integrity and to rally support for alternative candidates in the 2027 polls. The lack of named individuals in the original statement has allowed the APC to distance itself from specific wrongdoing, but the general nature of the accusation continues to fuel public debate over accountability and the cost of political office in Nigeria.

What happens next

The political discourse is expected to continue as opposition parties press for concrete evidence and named individuals. President Tinubu and the APC leadership are likely to face further questioning on this matter during campaign events and public forums. The outcome of these demands will depend on whether the administration chooses to disclose specific details or maintains its position that the claims are exaggerated. The 2027 election campaign will likely see this issue as a central point of contention between the ruling party and its opponents.