The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegation that he bribed the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to facilitate his impeachment, describing the claim as politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the allegation was intended to tarnish his reputation and give political advantage to Obasanjo’s preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that the timing of the allegation, coming after Na’Abba’s death, denied Nigerians the opportunity to hear the late lawmaker’s account.
According to Atiku, if Obasanjo had decided to support a particular presidential aspirant, he should openly declare his position instead of relying on allegations that could no longer be independently verified.
“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive,” the statement read.
The former vice president also questioned why no legal or official action was taken at the time if credible evidence existed 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 continued criticism of him to their political disagreement over the former president’s alleged third-term agenda.
He maintained that he opposed the move in defence of Nigeria’s Constitution and successfully challenged Obasanjo’s actions through the courts, adding that the former president had remained bitter over that episode.
Despite the renewed allegations, Atiku said he would not be distracted from issues affecting Nigerians, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and hunger.
He said his focus remained on offering credible alternatives, defending democracy, promoting accountability and working with other patriotic Nigerians to restore transparent and people-centred leadership in the country.