Atiku Abubakar Refutes Claims Of Campaign Funding Ties With Ifeanyi Okowa

Atiku Abubakar Refutes Claims Of Campaign Funding Ties With Ifeanyi Okowa.

Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has responded to recent allegations suggesting his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, may have been involved in financing his campaign with state funds. Okowa, who previously served as the governor of Delta State, was reportedly arrested on Monday under accusations of misappropriating N1.3 trillion from Delta’s 13 per cent derivation allocation over the course of his tenure, from 2015 to 2023.

The arrest has sparked widespread speculation, with some reports alleging that part of the funds were diverted to support the PDP’s 2023 presidential campaign. In response, Atiku’s special adviser on broadcast media, Abdul Rasheeth, clarified on Saturday that Okowa had no involvement in financing Atiku’s campaign.

Rasheeth’s statement, shared on the social media platform X, emphasised Atiku’s long-standing practice of self-financing his political campaigns. “Atiku has always independently funded his campaigns and does not rely on his running mates for financial support,” Rasheeth stated, addressing what he referred to as baseless rumours.

He further highlighted Atiku’s consistent approach to choosing his running mates, based on qualifications rather than financial considerations. Citing past elections, Rasheeth noted that Atiku’s choice of running mates, including Ben Obi in 2007, Peter Obi in 2019, and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in 2023, was made on merit, irrespective of their political standing or resources. “Any attempt to besmirch Atiku’s reputation through these falsehoods is a baseless insult, driven by those with ulterior motives against Okowa,” Rasheeth remarked.

This statement seeks to dispel the allegations surrounding Atiku’s campaign funding, reiterating the candidate’s commitment to transparency and independence in his political undertakings.