Atiku Critiques Tinubu's China Legal Defense Strategy

Vice-President Atiku Abubakar stated that the Nigerian Presidency's decision to reference China's legal system in defending President Bola Tinubu has drawn renewed attention to allegations regarding Tinubu's past. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, described this move as a “monumental own goal.” He argued that China's strict laws on drug offenses and anti-corruption measures could backfire against Tinubu.

Atiku's comments were made through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following remarks by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who accused Atiku of corruption during his tenure as Vice-President. Onanuga claimed that if Atiku were Chinese, he would be imprisoned for his alleged crimes.

In response, Shaibu asserted that Atiku has never been indicted or convicted of any crime and questioned how Chinese authorities would handle the $460,000 forfeited to the U.S. related to narcotics trafficking.