The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians not to entrust the nation’s treasury to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 election.
Felix Morka, APC national publicity secretary, made the call in a statement issued on Friday titled, “2027: Why Nigerians Must Keep Atiku Away From the National Treasury.”
Morka cited several controversies allegedly linked to the former vice-president, including the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, the Siemens bribery scandal, the William Jefferson case, the PTDF funds controversy and a 2010 US Senate investigation into financial transactions.
The APC spokesperson said the issues were contained in official records, court and tribunal proceedings, government investigations and foreign legislative reports.
On the Mambilla project, Morka alleged that a $500,000 payment made by Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, to Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former wife, in January 2003 raised questions because it occurred around the period the contract was awarded.
He said the transaction was among issues examined during proceedings before an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris.
Morka also alleged that about $2.8 million in suspected bribe payments in the Siemens controversy passed through a bank account linked to Douglas.
He further referenced the case involving former US congressman William Jefferson, who was convicted after investigations into proposed business interests in Nigeria, as well as a 2010 report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations examining financial transactions involving Atiku and Douglas.
APC attacks Atiku’s subsidy proposal
The APC spokesperson also criticised Atiku’s proposal for 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.
Morka, however, argued that the proposal could undermine the economic reforms introduced by 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 the government’s economic reforms.
Morka urged Nigerians to reject what he described as Atiku’s “desperate quest for presidential power” in 2027.
