The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fired back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, challenging him to head to court and prove his explosive claim that “thieves” are behind Nigeria’s political and economic troubles.
The ruling party’s reaction followed a fiery statement reportedly made by Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, during a meeting with supporters at his Abuja residence.
In a video shared on his social media platforms on Tuesday night, Atiku accused those in power of allegedly “stealing” both the 2023 election and the nation’s economy, while describing the 2027 presidential race as a battle against individuals he labelled “thieves.”
“We are competing with thieves. They stole the election. Now, they have stolen the economy. They have stolen everything,” Atiku was quoted as saying.
The remarks have since triggered a fresh political confrontation between the opposition camp and the APC, with the ruling party demanding that the former vice president provide evidence to back his claims.
Reacting, APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told The PUNCH that Atiku should approach the courts if he truly had proof that those contesting against him were criminals.
Ibrahim questioned whether Atiku had lost faith in Nigeria’s judiciary, noting that the former vice president had previously contested elections and had also sought legal intervention over electoral disputes.
“As a former Vice President of the country and as someone who has contested elections and lost before, I don’t know if Atiku is passing a vote of no confidence on the judiciary. If he is, then he has no business contesting again,” he said.
The APC spokesman added that if Atiku had confidence in the judicial system, the appropriate step was to present his evidence before the courts rather than make public allegations.
“He should go to court, present facts to support his claims that he is competing against thieves. It is for the court to take a decision, and those thieves will certainly be made to have their day in court,” Ibrahim stated.
The clash adds to the growing political tension ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where Atiku, who has contested the presidency several times, is expected to lead the ADC’s challenge against President Bola Tinubu’s APC administration.
Atiku’s latest comments come amid continued opposition criticism of the government over economic hardship, inflation, fuel prices and the impact of reforms introduced since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
The APC, however, has consistently defended its policies, blaming years of economic challenges on previous administrations and promising that its reforms will deliver long-term benefits.
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