The presidential contest ahead of the 2027 election took a combative turn on Thursday as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of worsening Nigeria’s economic fortunes, while the APC hit back by questioning his suitability for the presidency over allegations of corruption and financial impropriety.

Speaking in Akure, Ondo State, during the defection of former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) to the ADC, Atiku urged Nigerians to vote the APC out, alleging that the party had taken the country backwards economically.

Hours later, the APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, accused the former Vice President of being linked to past corruption and financial controversies, citing the Mambilla power project, Siemens bribery case and other matters.

The exchange marked a fresh escalation in the growing political contest between the ruling party and the ADC presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking in Akure, where hundreds of ADC supporters trooped out to welcome him, Atiku said, “This is not a campaign rally; this is a welcome rally. We are going to come back for a campaign rally; we will let you know what ADC is going to do for you, for your future and next generations of Nigerians.

“Of course, we have started releasing teasers; we are committed to returning subsidy. Secondly, we are committed to returning security to all over this country. No part of this country will feel insecure anymore.

‎”You know what we did between 1999 and 2007; we took Nigeria to the best economy in Africa; today we are number five. The APC is responsible for taking us down. So the best thing for us is to vote them out.

“There is this popular saying now, which is that APC Must Go! Tinubu must go! You know we had a good example in the last governorship election in Osun State. What did we see there? We saw massive turnout of voters. We also saw massive protection of our votes.

‎”Therefore, the APC couldn’t do anything. This is what we must make sure happens in this state, in Ondo State. We will come back and tell you what the ADC government is going to do for you as Nigerians and as people of Ondo State in particular.

“So, we thank you very much indeed for this reception. It’s not a campaign rally. It’s a welcome rally to receive our brother, our friend, and his associates from PDP into ADC. We are extremely delighted. We are extremely happy to have him back.”

‎‎In his brief remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, who was represented by the National Secretary of the party, Rauf Aregbesola, urged the people to support the candidates of the ADC in the forthcoming general election.

‎Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State, said, “I want to appeal to you to vote APC out and protect your votes in the coming general election. I also want to urge you to go and campaign, from now on till January and February.”

‎‎A chieftain of the party and former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaja Aminu Tambuwal, who spoke in Hausa to the Hausa members of the party, urged them to work for the victory of the party in next year’s polls.

‎Speaking earlier, Eyitayo Jegede expressed assurance of the party winning the state in the presidential, state and National Assembly elections.

“There is unemployment in Nigeria; you can all see that there is hardship, you can all see that the suffering is too much. The journey has begun.

“We want a democratic government; we are sure of winning for Senate, House of Representatives and the Presidential elections. We are going to mobilise and unite to win come 2027,” he said.

Reacting to Atiku, the APC said his alleged involvement in past corruption and financial scandals made him unfit to occupy the office of President in the 2027 election.

Morka, in a statement on Thursday, cited controversies surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, the Siemens bribery scandal, the William Jefferson case and the United States Senate investigation into suspicious financial transactions allegedly linked to Atiku and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas.

Morka declared that the controversies, which he said were documented in official records, court proceedings and legislative reports, raised serious questions about Atiku’s commitment to probity and accountability, urging Nigerians to reject his presidential ambition in 2027.

APC stated, “The media and public discourse have been awash with damning reports of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s alleged dealings in local and international bribery and corruption schemes.

“Ghosts of his sordid past continue, restlessly, to haunt and warn that Atiku must never again be allowed anywhere close to such a commanding position of trust and responsibility as the presidency.

“As a former public official, Atiku’s record is an executive summary of some of Nigeria’s vilest episodes of corruption and cronyism that pulverised our economy and decimated public trust.

“Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election presents the electorate the opportunity to deal a final blow to Atiku’s desperate quest for presidential power and save the country from his ravenous plunder.

“From the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and the Siemens bribery scandal to the William Jefferson case, the PTDF funds controversy, and the US Senate investigation into suspicious financial transactions, Atiku’s name is engraved ingloriously on files and dossiers of onshore and offshore financial scandals and atrocities.”

Morka said the issues raised against Atiku were not mere allegations, but matters documented in official records, tribunal proceedings, government investigations and legislative reports in Nigeria and abroad.

He added that the records, as well as international financial inquiries, had raised questions about Atiku’s commitment to probity and accountability as a repeated presidential contender.

The party stated, “The latest controversy surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project is particularly troubling. An International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Tribunal in Paris examined a $500,000 payment made in January 2003 by Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, to Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s wife at the time, through an offshore company.

“Reportedly, the payment occurred around the period when the Mambilla contract was awarded with Atiku as Vice President. Atiku declined an opportunity to explain and justify what clearly was an illegal bribe payment to his wife.

“There was the Siemens bribery scandal in which US authorities alleged that Siemens paid at least $4.5 million in bribes to secure Nigerian telecommunications contracts during the Obasanjo administration, with approximately $2.8 million reportedly passing through a bank account owned by Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s ex-wife.

“Siemens subsequently agreed to pay approximately $1.6 billion in penalties to US and German authorities over global bribery violations. Again, Atiku’s Vice Presidential soiled fingerprints came into focus.

“And there was the William Jefferson bribery case, with Atiku and his close associates falling under the scrutiny of American investigators.

“US court records indicated that former Congressman William Jefferson disclosed paying Atiku $100,000 to influence a proposed business partnership involving iGate and Netlink Digital Television. Jefferson was eventually convicted and sentenced to prison. Again, Atiku’s dark web of corrupt influence peddling and abuse of office is on display.”

The APC Publicity Secretary also cited a 2010 report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which linked Atiku and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas, to more than $40m in suspicious funds transferred to the United States through offshore companies and deposited into over 30 bank accounts associated with Douglas and her family.

He argued that the report further raised concerns about Atiku’s suitability to manage the nation’s finances.

The statement read, “Atiku’s sudden U-turn from his 2023 policy position in favour of fuel subsidy removal to his new promise to restore the fuel subsidy regime, if elected, must be understood as his latest device to lay his hands on, and squander, the country’s 18-year foreign reserve high of over $54 billion built up from $3 billion by President Bola Tinubu in less than four years through bold and prudent economic reforms.

“The national treasury that President Tinubu has built strong is what Atiku desires to scatter and plunder under the cover of his fake and unrealistic promise to restore the ruinous fuel subsidy regime.

“In his book, My Watch, President Olusegun Obasanjo characterised Atiku as possessing a propensity for corruption, a tendency toward disloyalty, poor judgment, and a readiness to sacrifice the national interest for selfish gains.

“In August 2026, Obasanjo described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the biggest mistake of his presidency.

“He stated, ‘The man I picked as my running mate, my number two, if I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him.’ That is an open-and-shut reference by the former President, Atiku’s principal, to his unfitness for public office.

“Atiku was an accidental Vice President, and categorically unfit for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Source: punchng.com

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The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has named Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman of his 2027 National Campaign Council, with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, appointed deputy chairman.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, who also serves as the campaign council’s Director of Strategic Communications, the former Vice-President also appointed Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager, while veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, will serve as Deputy Director-General of the Media and Communications Directorate.

Atiku said the appointments formed part of a lean campaign structure with six operational directorates and 30 directors, designed to ensure clear responsibilities, accountability and effective coordination.

The former Vice-President added, “The size and character of the council deliberately reflect the mood of the nation and the severe economic realities confronting millions of Nigerians.

“At a time when families are being compelled to do more with less, the campaign must demonstrate the same discipline, prudence and sensitivity it seeks to bring to government.

“This will not be a bloated campaign built around titles, privileges and political patronage. It will operate as a people-driven organisation anchored on competence, accountability, national inclusion, clearly defined responsibilities and measurable results.

“The National Campaign Council will be chaired by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, an experienced political organiser and administrator with decades of involvement in national politics.

“Serving as Deputy Chairman is Nasir El-Rufai, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Kaduna State. El-Rufai brings extensive experience in public administration, political organisation and executive governance to the leadership of the council. His role will include high-level political coordination and engagement with critical stakeholders across the country.”

He said Akobundu, the Director-General and Campaign Manager, would oversee the day-to-day running and coordination of the campaign.

According to Atiku, Akobundu would be responsible for implementing the campaign’s strategies, coordinating its various arms and maintaining discipline, unity and accountability across the national structure.

He added that the campaign had been divided into six major operational directorates, each headed by a Deputy Director-General to ensure effective coordination.

The statement added that, “Working across these directorates are 30 Directors, each assigned clearly defined responsibilities. The structure has been deliberately kept lean to prevent duplication, reduce bureaucracy and ensure that every office has a specific function and every appointee is accountable for results.

“The Media and Communications Directorate will be headed by veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu as Deputy Director-General. He will coordinate the campaign’s media and communications operations across traditional, broadcast and digital platforms.

“Also playing a key role in the campaign structure is Dino Melaye, whose political experience and public engagement will form part of the wider effort to strengthen the campaign’s national outreach, mobilisation and public interface.”

The former Vice-President said economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen would lead the campaign’s policy team, supported by Prof Mohammed Sagagi and Aare Aremijoye.

He added that Prof Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, would also contribute his expertise to the campaign’s policy development.

The statement continued, “The Campaign Advisory Council will be chaired by John Oyegun, former governor of Edo State and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, with Senator Ben Obi and Lawal Batagarawa serving as Deputy Chairmen and Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as Secretary.

“The philosophy underlying the campaign structure is straightforward: fewer offices, clearer responsibilities and greater accountability.

“There are six operational directorates headed by Deputy Directors-General and 30 Directors responsible for defined areas of campaign activity.

“The Director-General will coordinate their execution, while the Chairman and Deputy Chairman provide political leadership and strategic coordination.

“There will be no room for ornamental appointments. Every directorate has a responsibility. Every director has an assignment. And every level of the campaign structure will be expected to account for results.”

Atiku said the campaign would focus not only on political mobilisation but also on key issues affecting Nigerians, including the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity, reduced purchasing power and poor governance.

He said the campaign would be people-oriented, with its effectiveness measured by its organisation, policy clarity and commitment to addressing the concerns of Nigerians.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s 2027 election timetable, political parties were expected to commence presidential campaigns on August 19.

Although the parties have yet to formally flag off their campaigns, several presidential candidates and their teams have been engaging key stakeholders and supporters across the country ahead of the official campaign activities.

Moghalu rejects appointment

Meanwhile, a former Deputy Governor of the CBN, Moghalu, has rejected his inclusion in the policy team.

Moghalu, in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, said he was neither consulted nor asked for his consent before his name was published as a member of Atiku’s campaign policy team.

“I am surprised to see a statement from @atiku and @ADCNig campaign team including my name as a member of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s policy team for the 2027 presidential campaign.

“For the record: I was not consulted and did not give my consent to my name being published as a member of the ADC candidate’s policy team.

“I am not, in fact, a member of Atiku’s policy team, even unofficially or in any advisory capacity,” Moghalu said.

Moghalu, who was a presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the 2019 election, said he had quit partisan politics in Nigeria in 2022.

“I have quit partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022. I have maintained, and continue to maintain, my non-partisan posture in our country’s national affairs.

“I am not a member or sympathiser of any political party in Nigeria,” he said.

He said his current engagements included serving as president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, IGET Africa, which he described as a non-partisan public policy think tank and executive education academy, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Sogato Strategies, a geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy advisory firm.

Moghalu said his decision to remain outside partisan politics did not mean he was disengaged from national affairs.

“I remain committed to my country, Nigeria and its progress, but such commitment does not have to entail ANY partisan alignment.

“I have adopted the path of statesmanship, not partisanship,” he said.

Source: punchng.com

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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has insisted that he did not borrow money or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State during his eight years as governor.

Obi, who spoke on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Thursday, said his administration left office in March 2014 without owing salaries, gratuities, pensions or contractors whose jobs had been executed, certified and verified.

The former governor was responding to questions over recent allegations by the Anambra State Government that his administration left outstanding debt and other liabilities for successive governments to service.

“Let me categorically state again: I, Mr Peter Obi, did not approach any financial institution to borrow money or issue bonds on behalf of Anambra State in the eight years I was in government.

“On the day I left office, the government of Anambra State, which I headed, was not owing any salary, gratuity, or pension to those scheduled to be paid by the state government.

We were not owing any contractor or supplier who executed his job, certified and verified—not one,” he said.

Obi said the loans being attributed to his administration were not funds he personally obtained from financial institutions, arguing that some of the funding arrangements were supported by the Federal Government.

“I didn’t go to obtain it. But what I’m saying, assuming that your father left you with an inheritance of N100m, and suddenly somebody comes up and says your father is owing N10m. Are you going to go to the market and say your father left you with debts? Unless there’s another thing, you’ll be unfair,” he said.

He explained that the Federal Government had selected Anambra, Ekiti and Bauchi states to receive concessionary multilateral support because of their performance in education.

“There’s a difference between I went to the bank to borrow money, then the Federal Government sees, ‘Oh, this state is doing well in education.’ They selected Anambra, Ekiti, and Bauchi and said, ‘These three states are doing well. Why don’t we give them a concessionary multilateral support to help them?’”

Obi said the funding, which involved the World Bank, was not obtained by Anambra from a commercial bank.

“Yes, and the World Bank,” Obi said, when the interviewer asked whether the funding was a decision by the Federal Government to provide support.

“To support us. Not that we go to the World Bank and say give me this, not that we go to any commercial bank. And to even make it more… when it came, if you look at State Education Programme Investment Project (SEPIP), you will see that the drawdown was well after I left office.”

He added that even if the entire amount in question had been drawn down, there would have been sufficient funds left to cover it.

“I’ve assumed the whole and said even if that was the case, there was enough left to pay it, and the state will still be at the best financial standing,” he said.

Obi further argued that undrawn funds under a loan facility should not be regarded as debt incurred by the government.

“Even if I had gone to a bank and borrowed money—even if I had gone to a bank and borrowed money, but I did not spend the money, you cannot call it debt I left.

“Assuming I have gone to the bank and said, ‘Bank A, borrow me loan, Give me a loan of N10 billion. And they gave me a loan of 10 billion Naira, and I only drew down 500 million; you cannot now say I’m owing 10 billion because you know the amount. That’s why I said it is not proper public sector accounting.”

To support his position, Obi cited former Debt Management Office Director-General, Abraham Nwankwo, who he said served for 10 years.

He said Nwankwo had invited him to chair his send-off ceremony and publicly stated that Obi was the only governor in Nigeria who never visited his office to seek approval to borrow money.

“To even confirm this: the then DG… Abraham Nwankwo, who was DG of Debt Management Office, served for 10 years. The day he left office, at his send-off party, he invited me as the chairman, and he announced to everybody at that party that the reason why he made me chairman is that I was the only governor in Nigeria who never came to his office for approval to borrow money,” he said.

The dispute followed recent criticism from the Anambra State Government, which has alleged that Obi left outstanding external loans and other liabilities.

The state government recently challenged Obi to quit the 2027 presidential race, accusing him of leaving outstanding external loans and salary, pension and gratuity arrears, and of breaking earlier pledges on debt and timely payment of workers.

Through its New Media Office and Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, the state alleged that eight external borrowings contracted during Obi’s tenure left an outstanding balance of about N127.4 billion (from $123.77 million) as of June 30, 2026, which continues to be serviced from federal allocations.

It also referenced salary arrears, including at the Water Corporation, and disputed Obi’s claim of leaving more than N2.13 billion in an ecological fund account.

Obi had previously vowed to stop campaigning if it was proven he left the state in debt or with unpaid certified contractor obligations.

NDC, Ok Movement tackle Soludo

The NDC and the Peter Obi-backed OK Movement have criticised Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, over his continued attacks on Obi as the political battle ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensifies.

The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described Soludo’s attacks on Obi as a distraction, alleging that the Anambra governor was acting at the behest of unnamed political interests.

Director disclosed this in an exclusive phone interview with The PUNCH.

He said, “This is more like a distraction that Obi is having. Soludo is the man on the spot right now, apparently doing someone’s bidding to destroy his own brother. He seems to be taking this too far, and it is very petty of him.”

The Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, also urged Soludo to focus on governing Anambra State rather than making Obi the centre of his political attacks.

Ughulu said the movement respected Soludo’s decision to support President Bola Tinubu and the APC in 2027, but argued that political differences should not turn into a continuous campaign against Obi.

He said, “We believe Soludo should focus his energy and attention on the task of governing Anambra State and delivering on the mandate entrusted to him by the people.

“Obi left office as governor 12 years ago. The people of Anambra are mature and capable of assessing the records of previous administrations and comparing them with the realities they experience today. They do not need political actors to tell them how to evaluate the past.

“We equally respect Prof Soludo’s political choice to support President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 presidential election. Every Nigerian has the constitutional right to support the candidate or political platform of his or her choice.

“However, political disagreement should not become a continuous campaign against another individual.”

According to him, Obi’s growing popularity across the South-East and other parts of the country was a political reality that should be countered with stronger policies and programmes rather than personal attacks.

The OK Movement DG added that since Soludo was not a presidential candidate in 2027, there was little value in turning the election into a permanent contest with Obi.

He said, “The growing popularity of Peter Obi across the South East and other parts of Nigeria is a political reality that cannot be wished away. The appropriate response to popularity in a democracy is to present a stronger vision, policies and programmes, not personal attacks.

“The OK Movement has deliberately instructed its members and supporters not to be distracted by unnecessary or divisive exchanges. Our focus remains on issues that matter to Nigerians: good governance, economic development, security, institutional accountability, equity, justice and competent leadership.

“Soludo is not a candidate in the 2027 presidential election. If his political objective is to support the APC presidential campaign, he is entitled to do so. But there is little value in allowing the politics of 2027 to become a permanent contest with Peter Obi.

“We therefore encourage him to concentrate on the development of Anambra and allow the people to make their own independent assessment of every political leader and administration.

“The OK Movement will continue to promote issue-based politics, peaceful democratic engagement and responsible political discourse. We will not be distracted. Nigeria will be OK.”

Source: punchng.com

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