Ahead of the 2027 general election, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has declared that the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress(ADC), Atiku Abubakar was an accidental Vice President, and categorically unfit for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
National publicity secretary of the APC, Felix Morka made this declaration in a statement titled; “2027: Why Nigerians Must Keep Atiku Away From the National Treasury,” released in Abuja on Thursday.
The party stated that the media and public discourse has been awash with damning reports of former Vice President Atiku’s alleged dealings in local and international bribery and corruption schemes.
According to APC, ghosts of the ADC presidential candidate’s sordid past continue, restlessly, to haunt and warn that he 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 pulverized 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,” the party said.
APC argued that 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.
“These are not mere allegations. They are matters that are well documented in official records, tribunal proceedings, government investigations, national and foreign legislative reports, and international financial inquiries. Together, they raise legitimate questions about the fitness for probity and accountability of this serial presidential contender.
“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.
