The Presidency has criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over reports that he petitioned United States President Donald Trump, the US Congress and the US State Department concerning President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 23, 2026, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the matter Atiku raised relates to a civil forfeiture case from 1993 that had already been settled many years ago.
He said there was no criminal conviction or finding of guilt against Tinubu and described the renewed attention to the issue as unnecessary.
The Presidency said it was surprised that Atiku, who has pursued the presidency for more than three decades, chose to take a political dispute involving Nigeria's president to foreign authorities.
It argued that Nigeria is a sovereign country and that such actions do not reflect the conduct expected from a senior political figure seeking to lead the nation.
According to the statement, lobbying is common in American politics, but using foreign lobbyists to promote allegations against a sitting Nigerian president weakens the country's sovereignty.
It added that Nigerians had already decided the issue during the 2023 presidential election and that the Supreme Court had also ruled on the matter.
The Presidency further claimed that Atiku spent about $1.2 million on lobbying efforts in the United States and challenged him to explain his own legal history in the country.
It also referred to past corruption allegations linked to Atiku, including the William Jefferson bribery case and a 2010 US Senate report that examined foreign corruption and financial transactions involving offshore companies.
The statement claimed these issues raised questions about the former vice president's record.
The Presidency also accused Atiku of overseeing a flawed privatisation programme while serving as vice president, alleging that national assets were sold below value and that the exercise led to job losses and unpaid salaries and pensions.
It added that Atiku's continued interest in the presidency was driven by personal ambition rather than a desire to offer solutions to Nigeria's problems.
The statement said reviving allegations from the 2023 election would not improve his chances in the 2027 presidential race.
The Presidency maintained that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing his Renewed Hope Agenda, improving the economy, attracting investments, strengthening security and improving Nigeria's international standing despite the political attacks.
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!