Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denied allegations that he received money from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his 2023 presidential election campaign.
In a statement issued by the Atiku Media Office on Thursday, his media aide, Paul Ibe, dismissed the reports as false and politically motivated.
Atiku: “I Have Never Met Sanwo-Olu”
The statement described the allegation as “a blatant lie from the pit of hell”, insisting that Atiku had never met or had any dealings with Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“How is it possible for Atiku, who does not know and has never met Sanwo-Olu, to receive money from him—especially during a presidential election where Sanwo-Olu’s boss (Tinubu) was a contestant?”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023 argued that the claim was a smear campaign orchestrated to serve the political interests of President Bola Tinubu.
“A Plot to Discredit the Opposition”
Atiku’s media office alleged that the real motive behind the report was to discredit opposition political leaders and justify efforts to sideline Sanwo-Olu, who is rumored to have fallen out of favor with President Tinubu.
“This is a poorly executed political hatchet job aimed at undermining Atiku Abubakar and breaking the opposition coalition he is helping to build.”
The statement also criticized the report for quoting an unnamed aide of Sanwo-Olu who allegedly criticized his own principal, questioning the credibility of such claims.
Call for EFCC to Reveal Findings
Atiku’s media team called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was reportedly investigating the matter, to make its findings public to put an end to the speculation.
“This campaign of calumny against Atiku Abubakar must stop immediately,” the statement concluded.
The controversy comes amid growing political tensions and speculation about internal power struggles within the ruling party.
