‘Presidential promotion council’: Presidency may have become nest of fraudsters — ADC demands probe

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate constitution of an independent judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The party’s demand follows growing controversy over the disputed council, which the presidency has insisted does not exist under the current administration.

In June, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, distanced his office from the organisation, denying any appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi as head of the council.

However, Adeyemi, convener of the controversial PFIPC, rejected the claim and questioned how the council allegedly appeared in the 2026 budget if it was truly non-existent.

He also accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a N400 million bribe.

The controversy deepened after the presidency accused Adeyemi of forging an appointment letter and falsely presenting himself as a presidential appointee.

Reacting in a statement on Friday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the issue raises serious concerns about governance, accountability and national security.

According to him, the scandal has “exposed the staggering depth of institutional decay under the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu,” adding that it “suggests that under Tinubu’s watch, the presidency may have become a nest of fraudsters.”

Abdullahi argued that the presidency’s response failed to address critical questions and instead raised fresh concerns over institutional credibility.

He said the proposed probe should examine the roles of several public officials and institutions, including Gbajabiamila, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Civil Service, the Budget Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria and relevant National Assembly committees.

Abdullahi also said Adeyemi must be investigated over his alleged role in the creation and operation of the PFIPC, as well as his claims regarding payments to senior government officials.

According to him, the judicial panel should be empowered to summon witnesses, demand documents and determine whether any public officials were involved in negligence, abuse of office, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.

“If indeed the PFIPC was a fictitious organisation, then Nigerians deserve to know how a fictitious organisation allegedly secured recruitment approvals, budgetary allocations, official correspondence, diplomatic engagements, interactions with federal institutions, and recognition across multiple arms of government,” the statement read.

The ADC spokesperson further criticised the presidency for focusing mainly on clearing Gbajabiamila of wrongdoing while failing to explain how the alleged operations of the PFIPC were possible.

He also accused the Tinubu administration of applying double standards in handling corruption allegations, noting that security and anti-graft agencies moved swiftly over allegations involving former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai, while no similar urgency has been shown regarding claims involving the president’s chief of staff.