Coalition: How I turned down three ministerial slots – Ralph Nwosu

Former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has claimed that he was offered three ministerial slots to abandon plans of transforming the party into a coalition opposition force.

Speaking at the ADC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, where he officially handed over the party’s leadership to former Senate President David Mark, Nwosu revealed that political actors attempted to bribe him into dropping the coalition agenda.

“Some people tried to discourage us with promises of automatic ministerial appointments,” Nwosu said.

“They wanted to give me three ministerial slots so that I can take one and give two to others that I choose. But I said no. I chose a democratic future for Nigeria.”

The NEC meeting also confirmed the appointment of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the National Secretary of the party.

Nwosu described the move to disrupt the coalition’s formation as part of an agenda to force Nigeria into a one-party system.

“Nigeria cannot be a one-party state after all we did to ensure the military exited governance,” he stated.

The ADC, which officially rebranded into the Coalition Party on July 2, brought David Mark on board as interim National Chairman, a process Nwosu said was monitored by seven officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Nwosu, the party’s membership surged to over three million just two weeks after the coalition was announced.

Nwosu said the ADC now boasts of 28 senators and more than 60 House of Representatives members.

“We were very careful with the kind of people we are choosing to lead the party,” Nwosu noted, explaining that the National Working Committee (NWC) and NEC members had voluntarily stepped down to ease the leadership transition.

“Our constitution says all elected members, serving and non-serving, are NEC members.”

He concluded by saying, “We were worried by the declining fortunes of our democracy.”

“But we insist on the coalition in the best interest of Nigeria.”