The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to set up an independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), saying only a public investigation can determine what happened and who should be held responsible.
The opposition party made the demand in a statement dated 3 July, 2026, after reviewing allegations linked to the PFIPC and claims involving the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. The ADC argued that the issue goes beyond one official and should focus on how the organisation allegedly interacted with several government institutions.
The controversy began after the Presidency described the PFIPC as a fictitious organisation. The ADC said that explanation leaves unanswered questions about how such a body could allegedly obtain official recognition, communicate with public institutions, engage foreign diplomats and appear to function within government processes.
The party also referred to a July 1 response from the Presidency through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The ADC said the response defended one government official but did not explain how the alleged activities linked to PFIPC were possible if the organisation did not exist.
The party argued that the issue affects public confidence in government institutions and should be examined through an inquiry with powers to summon witnesses, obtain official documents and determine whether any laws were broken.
The ADC named 10 offices and institutions that it believes should be investigated as part of the proposed judicial inquiry.
They include the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, where the party said investigators should examine documents issued in the name of the office and allegations that Gbajabiamila received payments from Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The party also named Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, saying investigators should establish his role in the creation and promotion of PFIPC, verify documents linked to the organisation and examine claims that payments were made to senior public officials.
Other institutions listed are the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and relevant committees of the National Assembly.
The ADC said each institution should explain any official dealings connected with PFIPC and clarify whether established procedures were followed.
The party said an independent judicial panel should have full powers to compel the production of documents and determine whether there was negligence, misconduct, abuse of office, collusion or criminal wrongdoing.
It argued that if PFIPC was truly a fictitious organisation, Nigerians deserve an explanation of how it allegedly secured recruitment approvals, budget provisions, official correspondence and diplomatic engagements.
The party also said that if PFIPC was not fictitious, the government should explain why it publicly disowned the organisation while responding to allegations involving the President’s Chief of Staff.
The ADC maintained that press statements, denials or criminal prosecutions alone would not answer the issues it identified. It said only an independent inquiry could establish the facts and help restore confidence in public institutions.
The party also compared the government’s response to the PFIPC matter with the handling of allegations involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. It argued that security and anti-corruption agencies were quickly deployed in that case, while no similar step had been taken in relation to allegations involving the Chief of Staff.
The ADC urged President Tinubu to establish an independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry chaired by respected Nigerians. It said failure to do so would strengthen public doubts about the government’s willingness to investigate allegations involving senior public officials. It also said that if the matter is not fully investigated now, an ADC-led government would make the PFIPC affair one of its first accountability cases.