Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, July 24, 2026, has described the claims by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that he bribed the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, late Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to impeach him from office as president as politically motivated and unfair.
Atiku pointedly said that the allegation amounted to an attempt to rewrite history and influence public opinion ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He also stressed that the timing of the allegation suggests an attempt to tarnish his image in order to give political advantage to Obasanjo’s preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The former Vice President in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, stressed that it was wrong of Obasanjo to make such a serious allegation against a deceased person who could no longer respond or defend his reputation.
Atiku, who is the 2027 Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), emphasised that the late Na’Abba should not be drawn into contemporary political disputes after his death.
Atiku referenced his strained relationship with Obasanjo to his opposition to the third-term agenda pursued by the former President, emphasising that he chose to defend constitutional democracy and the rule of law rather than support “an unconstitutional project”.
He therefore questioned why former President Obasanjo failed to raise the matter while the late former Speaker was alive, stressing that Nigerians had been denied the opportunity to hear the other side of the story.
The ADC Presidential candidate insisted that the allegation by Obasanjo had never been established by any court or official investigation.
Atiku pointedly asked why no legal action was taken at the time if there was credible evidence to support the claim, saying that he would not be distracted by what he described as historical political disputes at a time Nigerians were grappling with economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and rising food prices.
He further said that the country’s leaders should focus on addressing current challenges instead of revisiting old political disagreements.
In the words of Atiku; “While Obasanjo is free to support any candidate of his choice in the 2027 election, such support should be declared openly rather than advanced through allegations that could no longer be independently verified”.
The former Vice President reiterated his commitment to offering credible alternatives, defending democracy and promoting accountable leadership.
Atiku emphasised that Nigerians were more interested in practical solutions to the nation’s pressing problems as against political controversies from the past.
