The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians not to entrust the country’s national treasury to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The APC made the call in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who cited several past controversies and allegations involving the former vice-president.
Morka, in a statement titled, “2027: Why Nigerians Must Keep Atiku Away From the National Treasury,” alleged that Atiku’s past record raised questions about whether he should be entrusted with the presidency.
The APC spokesperson referred to controversies surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, the Siemens bribery scandal, the William Jefferson case, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) controversy and a 2010 US Senate investigation into financial transactions involving Atiku.
According to Morka, the allegations had featured in official records, court and tribunal proceedings, government investigations and foreign legislative reports.
He particularly referenced a $500,000 payment allegedly made by Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, to Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former wife, in January 2003, around the period the Mambilla project contract was awarded.
Morka said the transaction was among issues examined during proceedings before an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris, France.
He also cited the Siemens bribery controversy, alleging that about $2.8 million in suspected bribe payments passed through a bank account linked to Atiku’s former wife.
The APC spokesperson further referenced the William Jefferson case involving the former US congressman, as well as a 2010 report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concerning financial transactions involving Atiku and Douglas.
Morka argued that the controversies raised questions about Atiku’s suitability for the presidency.
APC Attacks Atiku’s Subsidy Proposal
The APC also criticised Atiku’s proposal on petrol subsidy, particularly his plan to introduce a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria.
Atiku has said the policy would support locally refined petroleum products rather than restore the previous open-ended subsidy regime on imported petrol.
However, Morka described the proposal as a potential threat to the economic gains recorded under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He alleged that the policy could put pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves and accused Atiku of seeking to reverse some of the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
Morka urged Nigerians to reject what he described as Atiku’s “desperate quest for presidential power” ahead of the 2027 election.
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