Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of reviving an unproven bribery allegation involving the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, in a bid to shape the political narrative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku's reaction followed Obasanjo's recent claim that the former vice president attempted to bribe Na’Abba during his administration to facilitate the Speaker's impeachment. Rejecting the allegation in its entirety, Atiku described the accusation as politically motivated, alleging that it was designed to damage his public image while creating an advantage for Obasanjo's preferred presidential hopeful.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku challenged the former president to openly declare his political preference instead of raising allegations against a man who is no longer alive to confirm or refute the claims.

According to Atiku, the timing of Obasanjo's remarks, coming as political consultations and alignments ahead of the 2027 general election continue to gather pace, raises serious concerns about the intention behind the renewed accusation.

"The obvious objective is to tarnish my reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former president's kinsman," Atiku said, insisting that Nigerians would not be distracted by what he described as recycled political accusations aimed at influencing public opinion before the next election.

The former vice president further argued that if Obasanjo genuinely believed the allegation to be true, it should have been made while Na’Abba was still alive so that the former Speaker could respond and Nigerians would have had the opportunity to hear both sides of the story.

He also questioned why no legal or constitutional action was taken during Obasanjo's administration if there was credible evidence to support such a serious allegation.

"If there was indeed evidence of any criminal conduct as alleged, Nigerians are entitled to ask why no action was taken at the time by a government that wielded the full powers of the Nigerian state," Atiku stated.

The ADC presidential candidate also linked the renewed accusation to his long-standing political differences with Obasanjo, particularly his opposition to the former president's failed attempt to secure a third term in office.

Atiku maintained that his resistance to the controversial third-term agenda was driven by his commitment to protecting Nigeria's Constitution and democratic order. He noted that the legal victories recorded during that period remain significant milestones in the country's democratic journey, adding that Obasanjo has continued to harbour resentment over those events.

Despite the renewed exchange of accusations, Atiku said he would not allow old political disagreements to divert attention from what he described as the urgent issues confronting Nigerians, including worsening economic hardship, rising insecurity, unemployment and widespread hunger.

He stressed that his priority remains offering practical policy alternatives, strengthening democratic institutions, promoting transparency and accountability, and collaborating with like-minded political stakeholders to provide Nigerians with what he described as competent, transparent and people-centred leadership ahead of the 2027 general election.