Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused President Bola Tinubu's administration of being held hostage by fraudsters operating from within government institutions. The former vice president made the remarks following the Presidency's defense of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Atiku Criticizes Presidency's Response as Institutional Collapse
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 2, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku claimed that Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga's response was not a defense but a public confession of institutional failure. He argued that the Presidency's attempt at damage control has become self-indictment.
“The Presidency now wants Nigerians to believe that one private citizen single-handedly forged presidential documents, impersonated senior government officials, established an office inside the Federal Secretariat, allegedly opened dozens of bank accounts—including accounts bearing government identities—hosted foreign ambassadors without diplomatic clearance, secured official recognition across several government circles, and all but embedded a phantom agency into the machinery of government without a single insider aiding him. That explanation demands far greater faith than the scandal itself,” Atiku said.
Contradictions Over PFIPC Funding
Atiku pointed out glaring contradictions that the Presidency failed to explain. He noted that while the government insists the PFIPC never existed and was an elaborate scam, public records reportedly show that approximately ₦1.3 billion was appropriated for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act, listed alongside the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. “This contradiction is too monumental to ignore,” he added.
The controversy surrounds the PFIPC, which allegedly operated without government authorization. Investigations revealed that the fake council had set up an office in the Federal Secretariat, opened bank accounts under government identities, and hosted foreign ambassadors without diplomatic clearance. The suspect, Adeniyi Adeyemi, has been arrested in connection with the fraudulent activities.
Presidency Clears Gbajabiamila
Earlier, the Presidency cleared Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila of any ties to the forged agency allegations. However, Atiku's comments have reignited calls for accountability, with many questioning how such a sophisticated scam could occur without insider involvement.
In related news, Atiku also condemned the Tinubu administration over what he described as an unaccounted cycle of power sector borrowing. APGC Executive Secretary Dr. Joy Ogaji disclosed that the ₦501 billion bond has not been fully disbursed, contradicting government claims. Atiku demanded that the Federal Government publish names, amounts, and payment dates for every generation company that received funds from the bond.
