Atiku Abubakar Critiques Tinubu's China Comparison

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the Nigerian Presidency for invoking China's legal system in defense of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that this comparison drew more attention to allegations against Tinubu. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, stated that the Presidency's comments were a "monumental own goal," as China imposes the death penalty for serious drug trafficking offenses.

He noted that the Presidency had previously submitted petitions to then-President Donald Trump and the US State Department regarding a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving Tinubu. Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, emphasized that Atiku has never been indicted or convicted of any criminal offenses.

He argued that if the Tinubu administration uses China as a benchmark for accountability, Nigerians should question how Chinese authorities would handle the $460,000 forfeited to the US in connection with narcotics trafficking and money laundering.