The APC Campaign has called on African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, following revelations from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration over the disputed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
The campaign alleged that the $500,000 transferred in January 2003 to Jennifer Douglas, then wife of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, was connected to the controversial Mambilla contract. The payment was made by Sunrise Power promoter Leno Adesanya through China Castle Investments Limited, an offshore company he controlled.
However, the ICC tribunal did not find that Atiku received a bribe. According to reports on the final award, Adesanya maintained that the payment was part of a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Atiku, but the tribunal said the explanation was not supported by contemporaneous documentary or witness evidence.
The tribunal subsequently rejected Sunrise Power’s claims against Nigeria and ordered the company and Adesanya to reimburse 75 per cent of Nigeria’s legal costs, amounting to about $11.82 million.
The APC Campaign has nevertheless used the findings to renew its criticism of Atiku and his role in the Mambilla controversy, while Atiku has previously denied wrongdoing in relation to the matter
