By David Lawani, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has renewed its criticism of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, citing developments surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and previous US investigations as issues requiring scrutiny ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC listed the Mambilla project, the Siemens bribery investigation, the William Jefferson case and a 2010 US Senate investigation involving Atiku’s former wife, Jennifer Douglas, among issues it said Nigerians should examine.
The party’s latest attack followed reports concerning an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration award over the Mambilla project and a $500,000 payment made in January 2003 to Douglas, who was then Atiku’s wife.
According to the tribunal proceedings, Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, acknowledged transferring the money through an offshore company and told the tribunal that the transaction was carried out for Atiku.
The payment was made months before Sunrise was purportedly awarded a build-operate-transfer contract relating to the Mambilla project.
The tribunal reportedly raised concerns over Adesanya’s explanation, noting that he failed to provide documentary or independent witness evidence to support his account of the transaction.
The arbitration itself involved claims by Sunrise against the Federal Government and was ultimately decided in Nigeria’s favour.
Atiku has denied being indicted by the tribunal over the payment, maintaining that the arbitration award did not amount to a corruption verdict against him.
The APC, however, said the circumstances surrounding the payment warranted public attention, particularly because of its timing in relation to the Mambilla project.
Morka also revisited the Siemens bribery investigation, in which United States authorities examined payments linked to the German engineering company’s contracts in Nigeria during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
The party cited a 2010 report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concerning financial transactions involving Douglas.
According to the report cited by the APC, Douglas helped move more than $40 million in funds from offshore corporations into the United States between 2000 and 2008. The report also referred to $2.8 million in payments allegedly received from Siemens.
The APC further raised the case involving former US Congressman William Jefferson, who was convicted and sentenced to prison for bribery-related offences.
The party said proceedings in that case brought Atiku and associates under scrutiny over an alleged $100,000 payment linked to a proposed business arrangement involving iGate and Netlink Digital Television.
Atiku has previously denied wrongdoing in connection with the Jefferson affair.
Morka argued that the various controversies should be part of the public debate as Nigerians prepare for the 2027 presidential election.
He also criticised Atiku’s reported position on fuel subsidy, accusing the former vice-president of reversing his earlier position in favour of subsidy removal.
The APC argued that a return to subsidy payments could undermine the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while claiming that the administration’s policies had strengthened Nigeria’s foreign reserves.
The party’s spokesman also referred to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent comments about his decision to select Atiku as running mate in 1999.
Obasanjo had said, with the benefit of hindsight, that he would not have chosen Atiku as his vice-president, describing the decision as a mistake.
Atiku subsequently defended his opposition to Obasanjo’s third-term bid, saying his position was motivated by his commitment to the Constitution and democratic principles.
Despite the renewed criticism, Atiku remains a major opposition figure and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election.
