The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians to reject African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general election, accusing the former vice-president of involvement in several corruption scandals.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party described Atiku’s public record as marked by alleged corruption, cronyism and questionable financial dealings, arguing that he should not be entrusted with the presidency.
The APC said the forthcoming election would give Nigerians an opportunity to reject Atiku’s presidential ambition, alleging that his return to power could put the country’s public finances at risk.
Morka’s statement listed several controversies involving Atiku and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas, including the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, the Siemens bribery investigation, the case involving former United States Congressman William Jefferson, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) controversy and a 2010 US Senate investigation into suspicious financial transactions.
On the Mambilla project, the APC alleged that a $500,000 payment made in January 2003 by Sunrise Power promoter Leno Adesanya to Douglas through an offshore company was connected to the contract award. The party argued that the circumstances raised questions about Atiku’s role as vice-president at the time.
However, Atiku has rejected the suggestion that the arbitration proceedings established his involvement in corruption. In a response published on September 18, his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, said the tribunal did not find that Atiku received a bribe, abused his office or influenced the award of the contract.
The party further cited the case involving former US congressman William Jefferson, who was convicted of bribery-related offences. According to the APC, US court records indicated that Jefferson disclosed paying Atiku $100,000 in connection with a proposed business partnership involving iGate and Netlink Digital Television.
APC questions Atiku’s position on fuel subsidy
The ruling party also criticised Atiku’s reported shift in position on fuel subsidies, contrasting his support for subsidy removal during the 2023 presidential campaign with his subsequent promise to restore the regime if elected.
Morka alleged that restoring fuel subsidies would undermine the country’s finances and accused Atiku of using the proposal to gain political support.
The APC also praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, claiming they had strengthened the country’s foreign reserves and improved the government’s financial position. The party argued that Atiku’s proposed policies could reverse those gains.
APC invokes Obasanjo’s criticism
In its statement, the APC also cited remarks by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who served alongside Atiku as president and vice-president between 1999 and 2007.
The party referred to Obasanjo’s book My Watch and his reported comments in August 2026, in which he described selecting Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the biggest mistake of his presidency.
“The man I picked as my running mate, my number two, if I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him,” Obasanjo was quoted as saying.
The APC used the remarks to reinforce its criticism of Atiku’s record and suitability for the presidency.
The latest exchange comes amid intensifying political activity ahead of the 2027 general election, with the APC defending Tinubu’s administration and Atiku campaigning as the ADC’s presidential candidate. The allegations and political arguments remain contested, with Atiku rejecting claims that the Mambilla arbitration established his guilt.
