The All Progressives Congress has backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of Atiku Abubakar and urged Nigerians not to vote for the former vice president in 2027.
APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru said Obasanjo could speak about Atiku from experience because they worked together between 1999 and 2007.
“Obasanjo has said so many things about Atiku, and he is in a position to know who the former vice president is,” Basiru told Sunday PUNCH.
Basiru also called Atiku a serial defector and referred to previous accusations of corruption and disloyalty made by Obasanjo.
Atiku responded through his media aide, Paul Ibe, saying Nigerians would decide the 2027 election.
Ibe accused Obasanjo of allowing his disagreement with Atiku to influence his recent comments. He also said the former president had the right to support any candidate but should act fairly.
Obasanjo made the comments that triggered the latest dispute during a conversation with entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos.
The former president said selecting Atiku as his running mate in 1999 was the biggest mistake of his presidency.
Obasanjo added that he would not have chosen Atiku if he had known him then as well as he did later.
The relationship between both men deteriorated during their time in office, with Atiku leaving the Peoples Democratic Party for the Action Congress in 2006.
Atiku has connected the dispute to his opposition to Obasanjo’s attempt to extend his presidency beyond two terms.
He said he had no regret opposing the proposed constitutional amendment and maintained that defending the Constitution mattered more than personal loyalty.
Atiku also argued that Obasanjo’s comments would not determine his chances in 2027.
His camp said voters, rather than former political leaders, would decide the presidential election.
