Obasanjo and Atiku Renew Political Feud Over Impeachment and Third-Term Allegations
A long-standing political feud between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has re-erupted with accusations of an impeachment plot and the contentious third-term agenda. Obasanjo alleges Atiku offered ₦5 million to the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba for his impeachment, a claim Atiku vehemently denies as an attempt to rewrite history and influence the 2027 elections. Atiku maintains his focus remains on Nigeria's pressing economic and security challenges.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have revived their long-standing political rivalry following fresh allegations surrounding an alleged impeachment plot during their time in office.
Obasanjo claimed that Atiku offered the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, ₦5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his first presidential term. He said the alleged meeting was documented and reported to him by his then Chief of Staff, adding that he was unconcerned because there were no constitutional grounds for his impeachment.
Atiku, through his spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, dismissed the allegations and questioned why Obasanjo waited until Na'Abba's death to make the claims. He argued that the late former Speaker is no longer alive to confirm or refute the accusation and criticised the former President for failing to pursue legal action at the time if credible evidence existed.
Atiku described the allegations as an attempt to rewrite history and damage his reputation ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The former Vice President maintained that the real source of their political fallout was his opposition to Obasanjo's controversial third-term agenda, which he said he resisted through constitutional and legal means.
He stated that Nigeria's current economic and security challenges are of greater concern to citizens than political disputes from over two decades ago. Atiku also urged Obasanjo to openly support any preferred candidate for 2027 without resorting to allegations that can no longer be independently verified.