The All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a fresh attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urging Nigerians to reject his 2027 presidential ambition over what it described as a history of corruption allegations and financial scandals.
The ruling party said Atiku should not be entrusted with the nation’s treasury, arguing that his record in public office raises serious concerns about accountability and integrity.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
According to the party, several controversies that have trailed Atiku over the years, including the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project dispute, the Siemens bribery scandal, the William Jefferson case, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) controversy and a United States Senate report on suspicious financial transactions, should weigh heavily on voters ahead of the next presidential election.
The APC said: “The media and public discourse have been awash with damning reports of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s alleged dealings in local and international bribery and corruption schemes.”
It added that: “Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election presents the electorate the opportunity to deal a final blow to Atiku’s desperate quest for presidential power and save the country from his ravenous plunder.”
The party alleged that proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Tribunal in Paris brought attention to a payment allegedly made by Sunrise Power promoter Leno Adesanya to Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former wife, during the period the Mambilla power contract was awarded.
It also revisited the Siemens global bribery case, claiming that funds linked to the investigation passed through bank accounts associated with Jennifer Douglas.
The APC further referred to the William Jefferson bribery case in the United States and a 2010 report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, saying both contained allegations involving Atiku and his former wife.
On the economy, the ruling party criticised Atiku’s recent promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected president, describing the proposal as unrealistic and harmful to Nigeria’s finances.
The APC argued that the Tinubu administration had improved the country’s financial position through economic reforms and warned against policies it said could reverse those gains.
The statement also relied on comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo about his former deputy.
Quoting Obasanjo, the APC said: “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.”
According to the ruling party, the former president’s remarks reflected his assessment of Atiku’s suitability for the country’s highest office.