Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that he bribed the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to support efforts to impeach him while he was president.
In a statement released on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the allegation as baseless and politically motivated. He argued that the claim was an attempt to distort historical events and shape public opinion ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku questioned why Obasanjo waited until Na’Abba’s death to make the accusation, stressing that the late Speaker was no longer alive to either confirm or deny the allegation.
“It is disturbing that former President Obasanjo has chosen this time to allege that I bribed the late Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba to impeach him,” the statement read.
“If such an allegation were true, why was it never made while Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only person who could verify or challenge the claim is no longer here? By relying on a deceased individual as the central witness to such a serious accusation, Nigerians have been denied the opportunity to hear the other side.”
The former vice president also maintained that the allegation had never been backed by any judicial ruling or official investigation. He insisted that no evidence had ever been produced to support claims that he committed any criminal offence.
Atiku further argued that if the alleged bribery had truly occurred, the Obasanjo administration, which controlled the country’s institutions at the time, would have taken legal action.
He also suggested that the timing of the accusation was linked to the political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, alleging that the objective was to damage his reputation while benefiting Obasanjo’s preferred candidate.
According to him, reviving the issue at this stage was aimed at undermining his image and creating political advantage for the former president’s ally.
Atiku recalled that his long-running disagreement with Obasanjo began during the debate over the alleged third-term agenda, saying he opposed any attempt to alter Nigeria’s constitutional order for personal political gain.
He noted that his resistance to the proposal and the legal victories he secured during that period remain significant milestones in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Despite the renewed accusations, Atiku said he would not dwell on past political disputes while the country battles serious economic and security challenges.
He listed inflation, food insecurity, unemployment, rising public debt, insecurity and concerns over the management of public resources as pressing issues deserving national attention.
“The responsibility of today’s leaders is not to rewrite history but to secure Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Atiku added that although Obasanjo was free to endorse any candidate for the 2027 election, such support should be expressed openly rather than through allegations involving someone who is no longer alive to defend himself.
He reaffirmed his commitment to offering what he described as credible leadership alternatives, strengthening democratic values, promoting accountability and pursuing transparent, people-focused governance.
Atiku Rejects Obasanjo’s Bribery Allegation, Says Late Na’Abba Cannot Respond
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