Atiku Fires Back At Obasanjo Over Na’Abba Bribery Allegation

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC Atiku Abubakar, has strongly rejected 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 and calculated to influence the 2027 presidential election.
Responding through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the allegation was deliberately revived at a time when political alignments for the 2027 polls are gathering momentum. He argued that the objective was to damage his reputation while giving an unfair political advantage to Obasanjo’s preferred candidate.
According to the former Vice President, if Obasanjo has chosen a candidate to support in the next presidential election, he should declare his preference openly instead of relying on allegations that can no longer be verified because the principal figure in the matter, the late Na’Abba, is no longer alive.
Atiku questioned why the former President waited until after Na’Abba’s death to make the accusation, insisting that the timing deprived Nigerians of the opportunity to hear the late Speaker’s version of events. He also noted that throughout Obasanjo’s administration, no investigation or prosecution was initiated over the alleged bribery despite the government’s extensive powers.
The ADC flag bearer further linked Obasanjo’s criticism to their long-standing political disagreement over the failed third-term agenda. He maintained that his opposition to any constitutional amendment aimed at extending presidential tenure was guided by democratic principles, adding that the legal battles he fought against the administration remain significant milestones in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
While dismissing the allegation as another chapter in an old political feud, Atiku said he would not be distracted from the issues that matter most to Nigerians. He stressed that the country’s worsening economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and rising hunger demand urgent attention rather than renewed controversies over historical political disputes.
Reaffirming his campaign’s priorities, Atiku said his focus remains on presenting credible alternatives, defending democratic values, promoting accountability and working with other patriotic Nigerians to provide transparent and people-centred leadership ahead of the 2027 general election.