The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, calling him Nigeria’s most prolific electoral litigator after he claimed that the nation’s democracy was at risk due to judicial involvement in electoral matters.
The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Atiku made the comments at a national conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja on Monday, where he raised concerns over what he called the “imperilment” of democracy by judicial interference in elections.
He also accused President Bola Tinubu of paying opposition leaders a staggering 50 million Naira each to destabilize opposition parties in the country.
In a statement issued by APC’s Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka on Tuesday, the party dismissed Atiku’s remarks as an example of “petty politicking.”
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APC expressed disbelief that someone with Atiku’s history of using the courts to challenge election results would now criticize judicial involvement in electoral matters.
“It was in those same years that Atiku’s former boss and then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, infamously described the election as a “do or die affair” in a desperate attempt to annex Lagos”, the statement added.
The APC also took aim at Atiku’s allegations regarding President Tinubu’s supposed financial dealings with opposition leaders, calling the claim “bogus and laughable.”
The party suggested that Atiku’s own political desperation was behind the disintegration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the fragmentation of opposition parties in general.
The statement further accused Atiku of attempting to deflect attention from his party’s internal challenges by making baseless allegations.
The party also reminded Atiku of the historical context of the 2003 and 2007 elections during his time as Vice President, describing them as some of the most problematic in Nigeria’s political history.
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APC noted that it was under Atiku’s tenure that the PDP, in conjunction with the then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, conducted controversial elections, including the contentious takeover of South-West states, all while Obasanjo famously described the election as a “do or die affair.”
“The rot in the PDP began under Atiku’s watch,” APC stated. “It is ironic that the man who presided over the worst elections in Nigeria’s history now claims to be concerned about democracy being undermined by the courts.”
APC also emphasised that the judiciary is an essential and constitutionally defined branch of government, with the power to adjudicate electoral disputes and ensure that elections remain free, fair, and credible.
The party argued that Atiku’s attempts to undermine the role of the judiciary could set a dangerous precedent for democracy in Nigeria.
“While elections are about winning, democracy is about respecting the will of the people,” the statement concluded. “It’s time for Atiku to step back, let the democratic process unfold, and focus on rebuilding his party rather than throwing baseless accusations.”
