Dele Momodu, a senior member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has dismissed concerns that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would use money to influence the party’s presidential primary.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Momodu clarified that campaign funds are meant for legitimate logistics and election-day operations, not for bribing delegates.
“It’s not just about money. When we talk about money, there are logistics. We’re not talking about bribing,” he said, citing the 2024 U.S. presidential election as an example, where Kamala Harris raised over a billion dollars but still did not win.
Momodu explained that campaign funds are primarily used to ensure election security, such as managing polling booths and safeguarding votes.
He further noted that Atiku does not control state resources, unlike some other political figures. “Atiku is a businessman. He has been a businessman since leaving office in 2007. He does not control any state in Nigeria,” he said, contrasting him with leaders like Bola Tinubu in Lagos and Nyesom Wike in Rivers State.
Momodu added that Atiku relies on strategic planning rather than financial clout to win primaries, highlighting his 2022 PDP primary victory over Wike as a case in point.
“Atiku doesn’t have billions to bribe delegates. Strategy, not money, won him the PDP primary against Wike. That’s why Wike has never recovered,” he said, emphasizing the importance of careful planning over financial influence in political contests.
