Atiku won’t speak about ex-assistant’s corruption allegations, campaign source says, as PDP presidential candidate returns – The Whistler Newspaper

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The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has returned to Nigeria amid corruption allegations brought against him by his former media assistant, Michael Achimugu.

A member of his campaign, however, said the former vice president was seeking a mandate from the Nigerian electorate and therefore “would not speak on any issue that would waste his time on real engagement.”

Achimugu had accused the PDP candidate of raising 100 million naira from former Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye through fraudulent means.

Dariye was found guilty of financial fraud of which the 100 million naira was a part. He was pardoned in 2022 after serving a period in Kuje prison.

Atiku, who moved to the UK from Dubia, UAE, where he usually vacations, returned to the country with Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel; Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal; former Kogi Senator Dino Melaye; former national president of the PDP, Uche Secondus; former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; and former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Although repeated attempts have been made for an official reaction to the fraud allegation with his spokespersons declining to comment, a member of his team told THE WHISTLER on Friday morning that ‘no one has been authorized to speak’ and “I don’t think the contestant would have time to talk about an apparent lie from a cheap blackmailer.

According to him, “The trip to the UK was a success, the objective was achieved.

“The next step is to receive the smaller parties that have approached us for a merger to ensure that the PDP wins the elections next month.”

Asked to further explain the offers and the names of some of the smaller parties he believes are close to joining the PDP, he said: “In due time you will hear. You might be the first to hear.

“Never mind the lie that these parties want to join the APC, it’s actually the PDP they want to join and the candidate is back, so the action continues until election time.”

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