TDF Challenges Atiku to Address Own Record Before Questioning Tinubu
Oru Leonard
The Democratic Front (TDF), has challenged former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to address questions surrounding his own record before demanding explanations from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a decades-old civil forfeiture case in the United States.
The group said Atiku’s decision to make the 30-year-old US forfeiture matter involving President Tinubu a campaign issue risks shifting attention away from policy and the issues it believes should dominate the 2027 presidential contest.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, TDF said political candidates should be prepared to answer questions about their own public records when seeking the mandate of Nigerians.
The group particularly referenced allegations concerning financial transactions involving Atiku’s former wife, Jennifer Douglas, which it said had previously attracted scrutiny in the United States.
TDF alleged that about $40 million was transferred in various tranches into accounts linked to Douglas between 2000 and 2008, and urged Atiku to provide clarification on the circumstances surrounding the transactions.
It also cited claims concerning an investigation by a US Senate subcommittee and alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had acknowledged intervening in an FBI investigation involving Atiku.
The group called for the issues to be subjected to public scrutiny, while insisting that Nigerians should have access to credible information concerning allegations involving political office holders and former public officials.
On the Tinubu matter, TDF argued that the US proceeding involved a civil forfeiture action concerning approximately $460,000 and maintained that the case was an in rem proceeding, meaning that the property was the subject of the forfeiture action rather than the individual.
The group therefore questioned the basis for Atiku’s demand that President Tinubu personally explain the historical proceeding, arguing that the legal character of the case should be taken into account in interpreting what it established.
TDF also accused Atiku of moving away from the issue-based campaign he had previously advocated, citing his recent comments on fuel subsidy policy as evidence that Nigerians should expect a broader debate on economic and governance issues ahead of the 2027 election.
The group said the forthcoming political contest should focus on competing programmes, policies, records in public office and explanations of issues that remain matters of public interest.
It urged Atiku to provide his own explanations to Nigerians on the allegations it raised before making personal integrity a central theme of his campaign against the incumbent.
TDF concluded that accountability in an election campaign should apply to all political actors and that candidates seeking the presidency should be prepared to answer questions about their own records as they scrutinise those of their opponents.
This version gives the story a “accountability should be reciprocal” angle and avoids presenting TDF’s allegations as established facts.
