Former Vice President says renewed allegations are politically motivated ahead of the 2027 general election
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly responded to fresh allegations made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, insisting that Nigerians are more interested in solutions to the country’s current challenges than what he described as “recycled political tales” from the past.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dismissed Obasanjo’s allegation that he bribed the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, in an alleged plot to impeach the former president.
The former vice president described the claim as politically motivated and coming at a time when political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election are beginning to take shape.
According to Atiku, the allegations are aimed at damaging his reputation while creating political advantage for Obasanjo’s preferred candidate.
“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman,” the statement said.
Atiku questioned why the allegations surfaced only after the death of Ghali Umar Na’Abba, arguing that the late lawmaker is no longer alive to respond or provide his own account of the events.
He further stated that if there had been credible evidence against him during Obasanjo’s administration, the former president had every opportunity to pursue legal action while he was still in office.
The ADC presidential candidate also linked the renewed criticism to his opposition to Obasanjo’s controversial third-term agenda, describing his resistance at the time as one of the defining moments in Nigeria’s democratic history.
According to him, the former president has never moved beyond that political disagreement.
Despite the exchange, Atiku said his priority remains addressing Nigeria’s pressing national issues, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and rising hunger.
He stressed that Nigerians deserve practical solutions rather than renewed debates over political disputes of the past.
“Our focus remains unwavering: offering credible alternatives, defending democracy, demanding accountability and working with all patriotic Nigerians to restore competent, transparent and people-centred leadership to our country.”
Atiku concluded by maintaining that Nigerians are looking for leadership capable of solving today’s problems, not reviving yesterday’s political battles.
IBN News reports that Obasanjo’s allegations have generated widespread political reactions, further intensifying discussions ahead of the 2027 general election.
