Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegation that he bribed the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba to impeach him, describing the claim as an attempt to influence the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said Obasanjo acted unfairly by making the allegation after the death of former Speaker Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba.
He said the late lawmaker can no longer defend himself or respond to the accusation.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned why Obasanjo never made the allegation while Na’Abba was alive.
He argued that using a deceased person as the main witness denies Nigerians the chance to hear the other side of the story.
Atiku said African values demand respect for the dead. He added that dragging Na’Abba into a fresh political dispute goes against those values because the former Speaker cannot defend his integrity.
Atiku said no court or official body has ever found him guilty of the allegation. He argued that if any evidence existed, Obasanjo’s administration had enough power to investigate and prosecute the matter while it was in office.
He described the renewed allegation as politically motivated. He said the timing, as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election, suggests an effort to damage his reputation and give Obasanjo’s preferred candidate an advantage.
Atiku also linked Obasanjo’s criticism to their long-running political disagreement over the failed third-term agenda.
He said he opposed the move because he believed in constitutional rule and later secured landmark court victories that protected Nigeria’s democracy.
Atiku said he would not allow old political disputes to distract him from issues affecting Nigerians.
He pointed to rising food prices, growing public debt, insecurity, unemployment, hunger and concerns over the management of public resources as the country’s urgent problems.
He said Nigerians want practical solutions instead of renewed arguments over events that happened more than two decades ago.
He added that leaders should focus on improving the country’s future rather than rewriting political history.
Atiku also said Obasanjo has the right to support any candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
However, he urged the former President to declare his political position openly instead of relying on allegations that cannot be verified because the principal witness is dead.
He maintained that his focus remains on offering credible alternatives, defending democracy, promoting accountability and working with other Nigerians to provide transparent and people-centred leadership.
External Links
African Democratic Congress (ADC): https://adc.org.ng/
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): https://inecnigeria.org/
Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: https://statehouse.gov.ng/
