Kalu Denies Allegations of Atiku Receiving Financial Support from Sanwo-Olu
The People’s Democratic Party Coalition (PDPCo), a non-profit organization within the opposition PDP, has vehemently denied claims that former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar relied on undue financial aid from government officials to fund his elections.
The group addressed rumors suggesting that Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, received financial assistance from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his campaign. The PDPCo dismissed these allegations as baseless attempts to tarnish Atiku’s reputation and called for the accusers to present concrete evidence to support their claims.
Dr. Emeka Kalu, the National Coordinator of PDPCo, made the statement on Friday, clarifying that Atiku had never sought or accepted financial backing from Sanwo-Olu. Kalu also challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had been associated with the allegations, to publicly disclose its findings.
Kalu expressed disbelief over the accusations, questioning how Sanwo-Olu could have supported Atiku when President Bola Tinubu, a key player in the APC, was actively involved in the election campaign. He described the rumors as an attempt to undermine Atiku’s leadership and political vision, which had earned him widespread support in the 2023 presidential race.
The PDPCo leader condemned the “faceless” campaign of calumny, emphasizing that Atiku had no personal dealings with Governor Sanwo-Olu, despite what the false reports claimed. He also underscored that no amount of smear tactics would deter Atiku from continuing his fight against bad governance in the country.
Kalu further expressed concern over the state of Nigeria’s economy under the current administration, arguing that the country’s economic collapse could only be reversed through a change in leadership. He reiterated Atiku’s commitment to a government of national unity and called for the ruling APC to take responsibility for its failures rather than deflecting blame onto Atiku.
“Atiku’s reputation remains intact as a leader of excellence and integrity, and no amount of falsehood can derail his pursuit of a better Nigeria,” Kalu concluded.
