Atiku Accuses APC of Offering N50M Bribes to Opposition Leaders 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar alleges that the APC is bribing opposition leaders with N50 million to weaken political opposition. Read more on this developing story.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is offering opposition party leaders N50 million each to disrupt Nigeria’s democratic process.

On Monday, at a national conference focused on strengthening democracy in Abuja, Atiku made the allegation.

The event, coordinated by several civic organizations, concentrated on strategies to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic values.

The former Vice President voiced his worry about what he identified as an impending threat to Nigeria’s democracy. He stressed the need for prompt action to protect democratic institutions and prevent any decline in political integrity.

Atiku publicly disclosed, “I want to share this openly. I met with the leadership of a political party currently in opposition, and they candidly informed me that this government provides them with N50 million each.”

He expressed doubts about the opposition parties’ dedication to democracy, stating, “We need to be cautious. Some of you here might have received N50 million from the APC government. Are we genuinely committed to fighting for democracy?”

Atiku expressed concern over the decline of democratic principles, criticizing the present National Assembly as merely endorsing government actions without scrutiny and questioning the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral commission.

He referenced an example from Turkey, where the electoral commission declined to announce a president-elect who did not meet the necessary vote threshold, as a standard of integrity that Nigeria should follow.

Urging opposition parties to come together, he reflected on his decades-long fight for democracy, highlighting personal sacrifices such as surviving an assassination attempt, having his businesses seized, and undergoing exile.

“If we fail to come together and act, there’s a risk that democracy could disappear entirely. Heaven forbid,” Atiku concluded.