Ralph Nwosu, founder and pioneer national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has alleged that Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the party, used to ask him for N50,000 to travel to meetings in Abuja.
Speaking in an interview with Lagos Talks on Wednesday, Nwosu claimed Bala’s lifestyle changed after he went to court over the party’s leadership dispute in September 2025.
Nwosu alleged that Bala began staying at an expensive hotel, travelling with security personnel and using bulletproof sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
“This Bala, he went to court in September; we concluded the process in July, and from that September, he started living in one of the biggest hotels. He started moving around with security. He got more than three bulletproof SUVs, moving with security,” Nwosu said.
Asked whether Bala might have acquired the vehicles because he feared for his safety, Nwosu replied: “Yeah, and then you can buy an SUV that is costing over N500 million. And so on?”
Nwosu said Bala had previously relied on him and other party members for transport money to attend meetings in Abuja.
“Before then, when I invite Bala for a meeting in Abuja, he cannot come until I send him either N50,000 to take a bus. And he would not leave until we are able to also scratch out money to pay for his transport,” he said.
Nwosu also alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was interested in the ADC’s internal crisis. He claimed the dispute began after Bala filed his court case.
“We have tapes where the chief of staff to the president was telling some people to stay in ADC and destroy it,” he said.
Nwosu maintained that the party had completed its internal leadership process in July, before Bala went to court in September. He further alleged that the administration was willing to use financial inducements to weaken opposition figures and parties.
“As far as the incumbent government is concerned, their philosophy is: if you give them N1 billion and they say no, you can top it to N10 billion until they are able to collapse,” he said.
Nwosu said the alleged efforts had not weakened his resolve and predicted they would not succeed.
“They were not able to do it with this man — Ralph Okey Nwosu — and that is what is causing their pain and all they are doing. But I can assure you and all Nigerians, this will not succeed,” he said.
