'Housewives' Star Apollo Nida -- I Never Sexted Kenya Moore ... I Was Making a Business Deal!!!

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Parks' husband -- Apollo Nida -- definitely didn't text Kenya Moore for sex last year ... 'cause he tells TMZ, he just wanted to talk business.

"Sextgate" started on last seasons' 'RHOA' reunion show ... when Kenya implied Apollo was sending her inappropriate text messages after they apparently ran into each other in L.A.

But Moore and Apollo have both denied any wrongdoing since then ... and now Nida claims he only struck up the convo to propose that the two collaborate on a workout tape.

The tandem workout DVD never got off the ground ... 'cause Phaedra put the kibosh on the joint venture before Nida ever had a chance to make his proposal.