A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has dismissed concerns that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would use money to unduly influence the party’s presidential primary.
Speaking on Thursday during Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Momodu said campaign funding should not be equated with bribery, stressing that money is required for legitimate campaign logistics and election-day operations.
He explained that campaign funds are mainly used to protect votes and manage polling units, not to induce delegates. According to him, financial strength alone does not guarantee electoral victory, citing the 2024 United States presidential election where Kamala Harris reportedly raised more funds than Donald Trump but still lost.
Momodu also argued that Atiku does not control state resources, unlike some political figures who wield influence through states they govern. He described Atiku as a businessman who has relied on private enterprise since leaving office in 2007.
Dismissing claims that Atiku could bribe delegates with vast sums of money, Momodu said strategic planning, rather than financial power, helped Atiku secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket in 2022 over former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike.
He concluded that effective strategy, not money, remains the key factor in winning party primaries and elections.
