ADC’s Raph Nwosu Claims Presidency Targeting Party, Says He Holds Damning Calls, Pictures as Evidence

 

Raph Nwosu, founding chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has come out swinging against what he describes as mounting pressure and interference from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and allies within the Presidency. During a pointed interview on Arise Television, Nwosu revealed that he has gathered compelling evidence, including recorded calls and photographs, which allegedly expose efforts to destabilize the ADC.

Voicing concerns over alleged attempts to compromise his party's independence, Nwosu maintained a defiant stance, stating emphatically that no level of inducement or intimidation will sway the ADC from its democratic mission. Without disclosing specific names, he pointed fingers at officials within President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing them of making covert overtures designed to buy his allegiance.

According to Nwosu, these political overtures are part of a broader scheme aimed at weakening ADC’s structure and undermining its growing influence ahead of upcoming political alignments. He insisted that he has received both direct and indirect signals to betray the party’s position, but has remained firm in his loyalty to the ideals of the ADC.

“I sent the last signal to them and so on. What I’ve said wouldn’t be new to any national party chairman,” Nwosu said during the broadcast. “I just deliberately sent that signal. And if they don’t stay off, we are compelling them. I have calls, and I have meetings, and not only here in Nigeria. A couple of days. We have pictures, and we know where they are.”

His remarks suggest a calculated campaign to destabilize the ADC from both within and outside its ranks. Nwosu alleged that proxies were being deployed to infiltrate the party’s legal and leadership structures. He referenced court cases backed by unnamed individuals with ties to the ruling party, asserting that these legal efforts were designed to obstruct ADC’s internal decisions and push a counter-agenda.

This isn’t the first time Nwosu has raised alarms about external interference. Earlier reports revealed that he rejected offers amounting to billions of naira to lend ADC’s support to a controversial opposition coalition. The coalition reportedly comprises several political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.

The coalition, after reportedly adopting ADC as its political vehicle, had announced former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman. But that development soon unraveled as a leadership crisis broke out within the party. On Thursday, another political figure, Nafiu Bala from Gombe State, declared himself as the interim national chairman, creating a fresh wave of confusion and internal strife.

Nwosu remains undeterred. He says these tactics, including the sponsorship of parallel leadership structures, are part of a broader political strategy to force the ADC into submission. Despite mounting pressure, he reaffirmed that the party will stand firm and will not be bought or silenced.

“No inducement can stop ADC. As a matter of fact, what I did at our NEC meeting was to send a signal so that the presidency can see we are not yielding. They have used them to go to court to say that they don’t agree with the things we’re doing, therefore, it should be stopped. And they are being protected. We have pictures, and we know where they are,” he emphasized.

In response to Nwosu’s accusations, Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for President Tinubu, dismissed the claims outright. Labeling Nwosu an “egregious liar,” Onanuga challenged him to disclose how much he received from opposition elements to allegedly betray the party.

As tensions escalate, the internal and external wrangling within ADC may signal broader political realignments ahead of future elections. Whether the party can weather these storms will likely depend on how effectively its leadership manages these pressures while preserving its ideological stance and grassroots support.

The coming weeks may bring clarity as legal battles unfold and political actors continue to jostle for influence. For now, Nwosu has drawn a line in the sand, asserting that neither court cases nor clandestine negotiations will weaken the foundation of the African Democratic Congress.