Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over an unexpected payment credited to one of his private bank accounts, questioning how his confidential banking details may have been obtained.
Atiku said the transaction was neither authorised nor solicited by him or his campaign team and described the development as a matter that should concern Nigerians beyond his own case.
According to a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the payment came from an individual or organisation unknown to Atiku.
The transaction reportedly carried the narration “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”
Atiku said neither he nor his campaign authorised the transfer, insisting that the account involved was a private account whose details were not publicly available.
That, he said, raises a fundamental question about the protection of personal banking information.
“How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” Atiku asked.
‘No Nigerian’s Financial Privacy Is Safe’
The former Vice President said the incident could have implications far beyond the unexplained payment itself.
He argued that if confidential financial information belonging to a former Vice President and presidential candidate could allegedly be obtained and used without permission, ordinary Nigerians could also be vulnerable.
“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe,” he said.
Atiku further raised the possibility that people with authorised or privileged access to sensitive information could be involved.
He warned that any unauthorised disclosure of banking details could potentially expose account holders to criminals, including kidnappers, terrorists, bandits and fraudsters.
The ADC candidate has also drawn the attention of Nigerians and security agencies to the development, placing it within what he described as a wider pattern of suspicious activity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We therefore put the Nigerian public and the security agencies on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections,” Atiku said.
He suggested that the unexplained transaction could be intended to create reputational problems for him as political activities intensify ahead of the election.
Atiku urged his supporters and the wider public not to be distracted by what he described as attempts at character assassination.
“Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again,” he said.
‘Focused On Credible Leadership’
Despite the development, Atiku said he would remain focused on his political campaign and his stated objective of offering an alternative approach to the country’s challenges.
“The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges,” he said.
The allegation comes as political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election continues to gather momentum, with parties and candidates increasingly turning their attention to campaign organisation, fundraising and voter mobilisation.
Atiku’s concerns therefore place renewed attention on two issues: the protection of private banking information and the potential use of financial transactions in the increasingly charged political environment ahead of the elections.
