Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of fabricating allegations against him to give political advantage to his “kinsman” ahead of the 2027 general election.
The response follows Obasanjo’s claim that Atiku gave the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, ₦5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his first term in office.
Obasanjo made the allegation while recounting political events leading up to the 2003 general election. According to him, Atiku held a private meeting with Na’Abba and persuaded him that he should serve only one term as president before allegedly providing funds to begin the impeachment process.
The former president said the incident was documented and reported to him by his then Chief of Staff, whom he described as a professional intelligence officer.
Responding in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and timed to influence the 2027 presidential race.
Although Atiku did not identify the “kinsman”, his statement suggested the accusations were intended to benefit a preferred candidate ahead of the next election.
He argued that Nigerians would not be swayed by what he described as recycled allegations revived for political convenience.
Atiku also linked the renewed attacks to his opposition to Obasanjo’s controversial third-term agenda while they were in office, insisting that he defended constitutional democracy through the courts rather than supporting an unconstitutional extension of presidential tenure.
He said the lingering resentment from that period appeared to be driving the former president’s latest remarks.
The former vice-president added that he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over past political disputes while Nigerians are facing economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, hunger and concerns over public accountability.
Atiku further said Obasanjo is free to support any candidate of his choice ahead of the 2027 election but should do so openly instead of relying on allegations that cannot be verified because the principal witness, Na’Abba, is deceased.
