2027: ATIKU, APC CLASH OVER ECONOMY, CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

The political contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensified on Thursday as African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, criticised the economic record of the ruling All Progressives Congress, while the APC responded with corruption allegations against the former vice president.

Atiku spoke in Akure, Ondo State, during the defection of former Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), to the ADC.

He urged Nigerians to vote the APC out, accusing the ruling party of taking the country backwards economically. Atiku also said an ADC government would seek to address insecurity and revisit the fuel subsidy policy.

Atiku said his administration, if elected, would work to restore security across the country and improve economic conditions. He also referred to Nigeria's economic performance between 1999 and 2007, when he served as vice president, while criticising the current administration's policies.

The former vice president also referred to the 2026 Osun State governorship election, saying voter turnout and protection of votes demonstrated the importance of electoral participation and vote protection.

National Secretary of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola, who represented the party's National Chairman, David Mark, also urged supporters to vote against the APC and protect their votes during the 2027 elections.

Jegede, who formally joined the ADC, said unemployment, hardship and economic difficulties were among the issues motivating his political movement. He expressed confidence that the party could mobilise support for its candidates in Ondo State.

The APC responded through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who accused Atiku of being linked to several past corruption and financial controversies.

Morka cited issues surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, the Siemens bribery investigation, the William Jefferson case, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund controversy and a 2010 United States Senate investigation into suspicious financial transactions involving Atiku and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas.

On the Mambilla project, the APC referred to a $500,000 payment made in 2003 by Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, to Douglas, who was Atiku's wife at the time. The payment was examined by an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris in proceedings concerning the long-running dispute over the project.

However, Atiku has rejected attempts to portray the arbitration proceedings as a corruption finding against him. Through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, he said the tribunal did not find that he received the $500,000 as a bribe or used his position to influence the award of the Mambilla contract.

The tribunal's proceedings examined the circumstances surrounding the payment, while reports on the award noted that it did not establish that Atiku had used his official position to facilitate the award of the Mambilla contract. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has also set up a team to examine issues arising from the tribunal's findings.

Morka also revisited the Siemens bribery case, in which United States authorities investigated allegations that bribes were paid to secure Nigerian telecommunications contracts during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Siemens later agreed to pay about $1.6bn in penalties to United States and German authorities over global anti-bribery violations.

The APC further referenced the case involving former United States Congressman William Jefferson, who was convicted of corruption-related offences. The party linked the case to a proposed business arrangement involving Atiku and his associates, while Atiku has denied wrongdoing.

Morka also cited a 2010 report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concerning suspicious financial transactions involving Atiku and Douglas. The report examined transfers of more than $40m into the United States through offshore companies and accounts associated with Douglas and members of her family.

The APC used the various controversies to question Atiku's record on accountability and financial management. However, the allegations have been disputed, and Atiku has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the matters cited by the ruling party.

Morka also criticised Atiku's current position on fuel subsidy, arguing that it represented a departure from his position during the 2023 presidential campaign. He accused Atiku of seeking to reverse economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu.

The APC spokesman further invoked former President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent criticism of Atiku. In August 2026, Obasanjo said that, with the benefit of hindsight, he would not have selected Atiku as his running mate in 1999.

The exchange between Atiku and the APC adds another layer to the political contest ahead of the 2027 general election, with the two sides now trading arguments over economic policy, corruption allegations, public accountability and the direction of the country.