The All Progressives Congress criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday for claiming that President Bola Tinubu’s government paid a bribe of N50 million to opposition parties in order to undermine their leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
This occurred while opposition parties denied receiving such inducements from the Tinubu-led administration.
In separate interviews, the opposition groups, including the Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, Labour Party, and Social Democratic Party, denied the charges.
On Monday, Atiku made the charge while appearing as a panelist at a national conference on improving Nigerian democracy in Abuja.
The conference was organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, and the National Peace Committee.
The former vice president cautioned that if the country remained on its current path, it would risk losing its hard-earned democracy.
“I intend to make this public. Atiku stated, “I met with leaders of an opposition political party, and they openly admitted that this government gives them N50 million each.”
Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s National Publicity Director, expressed dismay at Atiku, stating that an older statesman like him should not be seen making frivolous claims.
Ibrahim also urged him to support his claim with tangible proof to back up his point.
