“Felix Morka Denies Atiku’s Allegations of N50 Million Payment to Opposition Leaders”

Felix Morka, the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has strongly denied the claim that President Bola Tinubu’s government paid opposition members N50 million each to undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

Morka made the denial on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, following accusations made by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Atiku had alleged that the Tinubu administration had been bribing opposition leaders with N50 million each to disrupt Nigeria’s democratic process.

Atiku raised the accusation during a national conference on strengthening democracy held in Abuja on Monday, organized by several civic groups. In response, Morka challenged Atiku to provide specific names of opposition leaders who allegedly received payments.

“If Alhaji Abubakar has any evidence of such payments, I would expect him to name the officials within his own party who received this money,” Morka said. “By naming them, we can investigate who paid them and why. But let me make it clear, the President is focused on governing Nigeria and fulfilling his mandate. He does not have time for the kind of petty claims Alhaji Abubakar is suggesting.”

Morka further emphasized that the APC had no interest in paying money to opposition leaders. “We are concentrating on our own party’s future and preparing for upcoming elections. Any resources we have will be used democratically to promote our party’s cause and to persuade Nigerians to support us,” he explained.

He also criticized Atiku for spreading what he called baseless rumors, saying it was unbecoming of someone who has held the office of Vice President and is regarded as an elder statesman.

“We have no interest in paying anyone in the opposition,” Morka concluded. “Atiku should stop spreading unfounded rumors.”