ABUJA: Former South-East spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Denge Josef Onoh, has warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could face defeat in the 2027 general elections if the President fails to address allegations that ministerial appointments are secured through payments running into billions of naira.
Onoh called on Tinubu to undertake a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle and appoint individuals with proven competence, integrity, patriotism and commitment to public service.
The former campaign council spokesperson made the demand while reacting to alleged remarks by APC campaign council spokesperson, Alwan Hassan, during an interview on Arise Television, in which Hassan reportedly claimed that ministerial positions were purchased and that appointees sought to recover their financial investments through the diversion of public funds.
In a statement made available to journalists in Lagos, Onoh described the allegations as damaging to Nigeria’s democratic institutions, public confidence and international reputation.
He challenged Hassan to substantiate the claims with verifiable evidence, including the names of former ministers who allegedly paid for their appointments, the intermediaries involved, the amounts reportedly exchanged and the dates of the transactions.
According to Onoh, allegations of this magnitude should not be generalised across previous administrations without credible proof.
He maintained that claims of corruption must be established through facts rather than used to explain or justify alleged misconduct in the present government.
Onoh also defended the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, arguing that appointments into the Federal Executive Council during that period were guided by merit, character, intellectual capacity and administrative competence.
He described the former administration as one that brought experienced professionals and technocrats into government, contributing to economic and institutional reforms.
Among the achievements he cited were Nigeria’s external debt relief, banking sector consolidation, telecommunications expansion and the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The former campaign spokesperson challenged former cabinet members who served between 1999 and 2023 to clarify whether they paid money to secure their appointments.
He insisted that allegations suggesting ministerial positions were routinely commercialised should not be accepted as established facts without supporting evidence
Onoh further criticised what he described as a departure from the discipline and institutional respect associated with the political campaign structure under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said Hassan’s reported comments had raised concerns about cohesion, discipline and responsibility within the ruling party’s political communication structure.
According to him, portraying ministerial appointments as commercial transactions could undermine public confidence in government institutions, discourage foreign investment and damage Nigeria’s standing internationally.
Onoh argued that public offices should be occupied by individuals selected on the basis of competence, patriotism, character and dedication to national development, rather than financial considerations.
He added that if the allegations were substantiated, they would raise serious questions about the integrity of the government’s appointment process.
While reaffirming his support for democratic governance and the Tinubu administration, Onoh called on the President to address the controversy and take concrete steps to restore confidence in his government.
He advocated a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle, urging Tinubu to bring in people he considers capable of strengthening governance and delivering on the administration’s promises.
Onoh warned that failure to respond adequately to the concerns could carry political consequences for the APC as Nigerians prepare for the 2027 general elections.
His warning adds to the political debate surrounding accountability, the performance of federal ministers and the ruling party’s prospects ahead of the next presidential contest.
The claims concerning payments for ministerial appointments remain allegations attributed to Hassan in the report. The material provided does not independently establish that ministerial positions were sold or that appointees diverted public funds to recover appointment costs.
Hassan’s response to Onoh’s challenge was also not included in the report.
The controversy has nevertheless renewed questions about transparency in public appointments, political accountability and the standards expected of those entrusted with public office.
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