The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of being linked to several alleged corruption and financial scandals, urging Nigerians to reject his bid for the presidency in the 2027 election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said Atiku’s alleged involvement in controversies surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, Siemens bribery scandal, the William Jefferson case and suspicious financial transactions raised questions about his suitability for the presidency.
Morka’s statement was titled, “2027: Why Nigerians Must Keep Atiku Away From the National Treasury.”
The APC spokesman said the controversies involving the former vice president were documented in official records, tribunal proceedings, government investigations and foreign legislative reports.
He particularly cited fresh scrutiny surrounding a $500,000 payment made in January 2003 by Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, to Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s then-wife, through an offshore company.
The payment was examined by an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris during proceedings over the disputed Mambilla hydropower project.
According to reports on the tribunal’s final award, Adesanya said the payment was part of a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Atiku. The tribunal, however, found that he had failed to provide documentary or independent witness evidence to substantiate that explanation.
The arbitration itself rejected Sunrise Power’s claims against Nigeria and ordered the company and Adesanya to reimburse the Federal Government for a substantial portion of its legal costs. The tribunal’s consideration of the $500,000 payment has nevertheless triggered renewed political controversy between Atiku and the APC.
Morka also referred to the Siemens bribery scandal, alleging that funds linked to the case passed through an account associated with Douglas. US authorities had previously pursued Siemens over bribery violations involving contracts in several countries, including Nigeria.
He further cited the corruption case involving former United States Congressman William Jefferson, alleging that Atiku and associates came under scrutiny during the US investigation.
The APC spokesman also referred to a 2010 report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concerning more than $40 million in suspicious funds allegedly transferred into the United States through offshore companies and accounts associated with Douglas and members of her family.
Morka said the various controversies should be considered when Nigerians assess candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The APC spokesman also attacked Atiku’s position on petrol subsidy, describing his pledge to restore the subsidy as a reversal of his earlier position.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said in August that he would restore petrol subsidy if elected in 2027, arguing that the removal of the subsidy had not produced sufficient benefits for Nigerians.
Atiku subsequently insisted that his position had not changed, after one of his aides suggested that the subsidy would be restored temporarily and later phased out.
Morka argued that the proposed restoration would undermine the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and accused Atiku of seeking access to the national treasury under the guise of addressing economic hardship.
The APC spokesman also cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of his former deputy. According to Morka, Obasanjo said in August 2026 that choosing Atiku as his running mate in 1999 was the biggest mistake of his presidency.
Morka concluded by describing Atiku as “categorically unfit” for the presidency and urged Nigerians to reject his presidential ambition in 2027.
The statement was signed by Morka on behalf of the APC in Abuja on September 24, 2026.