The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement 2027 has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to visit the United States and address controversies surrounding his alleged links to issues that emerged during the corruption investigation involving former US Congressman William Jefferson.
The group, which is campaigning for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said Atiku should be willing to face scrutiny over his past as he prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, the movement said the issues surrounding the Jefferson case were not mere political allegations but were raised during a United States federal investigation and court proceedings.
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William Jefferson, a former US Congressman from Louisiana, was convicted on corruption charges following a federal investigation into his financial and business dealings.
The group alleged that the proceedings also raised questions about dealings involving Atiku, who was Nigeria’s vice president at the time, including an alleged $500,000 payment which it claimed was linked to him.
The movement urged Atiku to provide Nigerians with an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the allegations rather than allowing them to remain subjects of political controversy.
It also raised questions about a US Senate investigation into millions of dollars allegedly moved into the United States through financial arrangements involving Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former wife.
According to the group, the investigation examined offshore transactions and other financial dealings, including transactions allegedly linked to Siemens.
The movement, however, acknowledged that raising the issues did not amount to declaring Atiku guilty of any offence.
It argued that any politician seeking to become president should be prepared to answer questions concerning controversial aspects of his public record.
To underscore its challenge, the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement said it was prepared to finance Atiku’s trip to the United States if financial considerations were preventing him from travelling there.
The group said it was willing to cover his flight, accommodation and other travel expenses, including those of his aides, if he accepted the challenge and travelled to the US to address the issues it raised.
It said the duration or cost of the trip should not be an excuse for declining the challenge.
“We are ready to foot his bill for the trip, even if it is for him to land in the US and spend just five hours. Let him just land in America. We are ready to pay for his flight and accommodation for him and all his aides if he cannot afford it,” the group said.