The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of compromising Nigeria’s national interest in connection with the long-running dispute over the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Dele Alake, on Friday, September 18, 2026, the council described Atiku as “unfit” for the presidency and alleged that he had placed personal interests above the country’s welfare.
The allegations followed revelations contained in the final award of an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration tribunal in Paris concerning the dispute between Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The tribunal dismissed Sunrise Power’s claims against Nigeria and ordered the company and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria for 75 per cent of its legal costs, estimated at about $11.82 million.
According to the APC campaign council, the arbitration proceedings raised questions about a $500,000 payment made by Adesanya through China Castle Investments Limited to the United States bank account of Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former wife, on January 30, 2003.
The payment occurred months before Sunrise was purportedly awarded a build-operate-transfer contract for the Mambilla project.
However, the tribunal did not find that Atiku personally received or ordered the $500,000 payment. Atiku was not a party to the arbitration and did not testify before the tribunal. The tribunal examined the credibility and evidentiary basis of Adesanya’s explanation that the payment was a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Atiku.
The APC council nevertheless alleged that the timing of the payment and Atiku’s involvement in the Mambilla negotiations raised serious concerns.
It also accused Atiku and former Power Minister Olu Agunloye of working together to facilitate the disputed contract despite objections attributed to then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The ICC tribunal found that Atiku had considerable political influence in the Federal Government during the first half of 2003 and had been involved in discussions surrounding the Mambilla project. It also noted that Sunrise’s contract claim was built around a letter issued by Agunloye on May 22, 2003.
The APC campaign council further cited allegations contained in a 2010 United States Senate investigation concerning offshore transfers involving Douglas. The statement argued that the latest arbitration proceedings had revived questions about Atiku’s past dealings.
The council called on Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, alleging that further revelations about the Mambilla controversy could emerge.
It also accused the ADC candidate of bearing responsibility for the delayed development of the Mambilla project, which, if completed, would have a generating capacity of about 3,960 megawatts.
The statement comes amid renewed political debate over the Mambilla project following Nigeria’s victory in the ICC arbitration. President Bola Tinubu has described the ruling as removing a major legal obstacle to the long-delayed project.
Atiku has previously denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations surrounding the Mambilla project and related financial transactions.
