APC Calls for Atiku Abubakar to Exit 2027 Race Over Bribery Claims

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has called on Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race. This request follows revelations from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration regarding a $500,000 payment made to Jennifer Douglas, Atiku's former wife, during negotiations for the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

The ICC tribunal ruled in favor of Nigeria, rejecting claims by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, which sought hundreds of millions of dollars related to the 3,960-megawatt project in Taraba State. The APC alleged that Atiku and former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, facilitated the award of a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract to Sunrise despite objections from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The tribunal found the payment, made on January 30, 2003, lacked supporting evidence and was suspiciously timed before the contract award on May 22, 2003. The APC criticized Atiku for not testifying in the arbitration, contrasting his absence with the participation of former presidents Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari.