Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused Olusegun Obasanjo of reviving an unverified bribery allegation against the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba to influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Responding to Obasanjo’s recent claim that Atiku attempted to bribe Na’Abba to facilitate his impeachment while he was president, Atiku dismissed the allegation as politically motivated and alleged that it was intended to benefit Obasanjo’s preferred presidential aspirant.
In a statement issued on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Atiku urged Obasanjo to openly declare his political allegiance instead of making allegations that could no longer be challenged because Na’Abba, the central figure in the claim, is deceased.
According to Atiku, the timing of the allegation, as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum, raises questions about its motive.
“The obvious objective is to tarnish my reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former president’s kinsman,” Atiku said, adding that Nigerians would not be distracted by what he described as recycled political accusations.
The former vice president argued that Obasanjo should have made the allegation while Na’Abba was alive, insisting that doing so now denies Nigerians the opportunity to hear both sides of the story.
He also questioned why no legal or official action was taken during Obasanjo’s administration if there was credible evidence to support the bribery allegation.
“If there was indeed evidence of any criminal conduct as alleged, Nigerians are entitled to ask why no action was taken at the time by a government that wielded the full powers of the Nigerian state,” he said.
Atiku further linked Obasanjo’s latest remarks to their long-running political disagreements, particularly his opposition to the former president’s unsuccessful third-term bid.
He maintained that he defended Nigeria’s Constitution during that period through legal challenges, describing the court victories as milestones in the country’s democratic development.
According to Atiku, Obasanjo has continued to harbour resentment over that political episode.
He, however, said he would not allow historical political disputes to distract attention from what he described as Nigeria’s pressing national challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and widespread hunger.
Atiku said his focus remains on presenting policy alternatives, strengthening democratic institutions, promoting accountability and working with other political stakeholders to provide Nigerians with what he called competent, transparent and people-centred leadership ahead of the 2027 general election.
The exchange follows renewed public debate over events during the Obasanjo administration, with political observers viewing the latest war of words as another indication that alignments and rivalries ahead of the 2027 presidential contest are beginning to intensify.
