Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed media reports claiming that he received campaign funds from Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the 2023 election. Atiku, who was the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, referred to the reports as a “blatant lie from the pit of hell.”
Atiku’s media team issued a statement in response to the allegations, which suggested that Governor Sanwo-Olu, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), through Ms. Aisha Achimugu, allegedly provided funds from Lagos State to Atiku. The reports also mentioned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was investigating the matter.
The statement firmly rejected the allegations, labeling them as “contrived political hogwash” and part of a “futile campaign of calumny” aimed at advancing the political agenda of President Bola A. Tinubu. It also clarified that Atiku has never met or had any connection with Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The media team further stated, “How could Atiku, who has no relationship with Sanwo-Olu, be involved in any transaction with him, especially during the 2023 Presidential election, in which Sanwo-Olu’s political boss, Tinubu, was a key contestant? This is a clear attempt to create a justification for sidelining Governor Sanwo-Olu, who appears to have fallen out of favor with the ‘Bourdillon Cult.’”
The statement continued, “Their strategy seems two-fold: to discredit Governor Sanwo-Olu and to undermine the opposition coalition, in which Atiku Abubakar plays a crucial role.” It also criticized the propaganda, pointing out that an unnamed aide of Sanwo-Olu was allegedly quoted trashing his principal and fueling the rumors.
In response to the involvement of the EFCC, Atiku’s team called on the anti-corruption agency to publicly disclose the results of its purported investigation, emphasizing that the public, including Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, deserve transparency in the matter.
The statement concluded by demanding an immediate end to the “misadventure” and “campaign of calumny” against Atiku Abubakar’s reputation.
