In a strong rebuttal to growing concerns, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bashorun Dele Momodu, has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar does not possess the financial capacity to bribe delegates ahead of the party's presidential primary.
Campaign Funds Are For Logistics, Not Inducement
Momodu, who is also the publisher of Ovation Magazine, made these clarifications during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme on January 16, 2026. He addressed anxieties about the influence of money as the ADC prepares for its primary to select a flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.
He drew a clear distinction between legitimate campaign financing and outright bribery. According to Momodu, financial resources in a political campaign are essential for organization and operational logistics, not for purchasing the support of delegates.
“It’s not just about money. When we talk about money, there are logistics. We’re not talking about bribing,” Momodu asserted during the interview.
To bolster his argument, he referenced international politics, noting that massive campaign war chests do not guarantee victory. “Even in America, Kamala Harris outperformed Donald Trump in terms of raising funds. She had over a billion dollars to spend. She still didn’t win,” he stated, emphasizing that structure, credibility, and voter confidence often outweigh sheer spending power.
Money is Crucial for Election Protection
Elaborating further, Momodu explained that a significant portion of campaign funding is dedicated to safeguarding the electoral process. He described the enormous cost of deploying agents and securing polling units across Nigeria as a necessary expense to ensure transparency and prevent malpractice.
“You need, for example, on the day of the general elections, you need to make sure that you can manage every polling booth. Make sure nobody can rewrite your votes, nobody can steal your votes. That’s what we mean by money,” he clarified.
He argued that without adequate resources for these critical activities, even a popular candidate could see their mandate stolen through electoral fraud.
Atiku Lacks Access to State Resources
Momodu also directly addressed speculations surrounding Atiku Abubakar's financial muscle within the ADC. He countered that the former vice president, unlike some other political figures, does not control state government resources that could be deployed to sway party delegates.
“Atiku is a business man. He has been a business man since he left power in 2007. He does not control any state in Nigeria,” Momodu remarked.
He contrasted this with other politicians, saying, “Asiwaju controls at least Lagos. I don’t know other states he controls personally, and he can do and undo. Wike controls Rivers.”
Momodu maintained that the ADC's internal selection process would be guided by internal democracy and merit, rather than financial inducement. He urged the public and observers to judge the party's primary by its eventual outcome, not by preconceived notions about money politics.
