Presidency, Obasanjo attack Atiku over US lobbying, reopen decades-old loyalty dispute

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

Presidency, Obasanjo attack Atiku over US lobbying, reopen decades-old loyalty dispute

The political battle ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election intensified on Thursday as the Presidency and former President Olusegun Obasanjo launched separate attacks on African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of attempting to internationalise Nigeria’s domestic politics and reviving long-standing allegations of political disloyalty.

The Presidency faulted Atiku over reports that he engaged a United States lobbying firm to petition U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. State Department and members of the U.S. Congress over President Bola Tinubu’s 1993 civil forfeiture case in the United States.

According to the Presidency, the matter had been conclusively settled by both American authorities and Nigeria’s Supreme Court, making any fresh attempt to revive it unnecessary and politically motivated.

In a statement titled “When Will Atiku Abubakar Report Himself to President Trump?”, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s reported move as an attempt to draw foreign governments into Nigeria’s internal political affairs.

Onanuga argued that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose electoral and constitutional disputes should be resolved through its democratic institutions rather than by foreign governments.

He said the issue surrounding President Tinubu’s U.S. civil forfeiture had already undergone extensive judicial scrutiny during the 2023 presidential election litigation.

Following the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar had challenged Tinubu’s eligibility before the Supreme Court, citing records relating to the 1993 civil forfeiture case in the United States.

However, the apex court ruled that the forfeiture was a civil settlement involving bank accounts and not a criminal conviction or indictment against Tinubu. The court held that there was no evidence that the President had been arraigned, tried or convicted of any criminal offence in the United States.

The Presidency also recalled that in December 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed a similar suit filed by Ambrose Owuru of the Hope Democratic Party seeking Tinubu’s removal over the same issue. The court described the case as frivolous and imposed a ₦5 million fine on the plaintiff.

Onanuga maintained that the legal questions surrounding the matter had been settled both judicially and politically through the electoral process.

Obasanjo revives loyalty allegations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo separately reopened his long-running political disagreement with Atiku, accusing his former deputy of working against his administration during the build-up to the 2003 presidential election.

In a letter dated July 23, 2026, titled “Reply to Your Inaccurate Posture: How Obasanjo Deceived Us in 2003,” Obasanjo alleged that Atiku supported efforts by the House of Representatives under then Speaker Ghali Umar Na’Abba to impeach him while both men were serving in office.

According to the former president, the alleged impeachment plot originated from within the Presidency and formed part of a broader political strategy to prevent him from securing a second term.

Obasanjo also revisited the controversial “Mandela Option”, a political proposal advanced by Atiku and some governors before the 2003 election, which suggested that he should complete only one term before handing over power.

He claimed the proposal was designed to position Atiku as president and ultimately destroyed the trust that had existed between them.

The former president recalled that after eventually securing re-election in 2003, relations between him and Atiku deteriorated significantly.

Throughout his second term, Obasanjo gradually withdrew many of the official responsibilities previously assigned to Atiku, with both leaders operating in an atmosphere of growing political mistrust until they left office in 2007.

Obasanjo also defended his decision not to support Atiku’s presidential ambition after leaving office, maintaining that he believed the former vice president had not demonstrated the loyalty expected of a deputy.

Political tensions rise ahead of 2027

The latest exchange highlights the increasingly heated political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general election, with the opposition ADC positioning itself as a major challenger to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Political analysts believe the renewed confrontation underscores how past political relationships and unresolved rivalries are resurfacing as parties intensify consultations, coalition talks and campaign preparations.

While the Presidency insists that the legal issues surrounding President Tinubu’s U.S. forfeiture case have been conclusively settled, Atiku’s allies have continued to argue that questions relating to transparency, accountability and public interest deserve continued scrutiny.

With political alignments gathering momentum, observers expect the exchanges between leading political figures to become even more pronounced as Nigeria moves closer to the next presidential election.