The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm over what he described as a suspicious and unauthorised transfer of money into one of his private bank accounts.
Alhaji Abubakar warned that the incident raises serious concerns about the security of confidential banking information in Nigeria.
The former Vice-President disclosed that an unknown individual transferred money into his account with the narration “Contribution Electioneering Campaign”.
This, he said, was despite the fact that neither he nor his campaign had solicited or authorised any such payment.
Atiku made the disclosure in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Questions How Private Bank Details Were Obtained
According to the statement, the transaction is particularly troubling because the account involved is a strictly private one whose details are not publicly available.
Shaibu said the transfer originated from an individual completely unknown to Atiku and his campaign.
“The transfer originated from a person totally unknown to His Excellency. Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,” the statement read.
Atiku questioned how an unknown person could have obtained the confidential details of his private bank account.
“The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” he asked.
Raises Concerns Over Financial Privacy
The former Vice-President warned that the incident has implications beyond his personal circumstances, arguing that if his private banking information could be accessed without his knowledge, the financial privacy of ordinary Nigerians could also be at risk.
“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,” the statement said.
He expressed concern that the account details may have been obtained by persons with privileged access to confidential financial information.
According to Atiku, if such access is established, it would represent a serious abuse of power with potentially dangerous consequences.
Warns of Security Risks
The ADC presidential candidate said the alleged compromise of confidential banking information could expose account holders to serious security threats.
“If established, this would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing the account holder to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements,” the statement added.
He called for greater protection of citizens’ financial data and stressed the importance of safeguarding confidential personal information against misuse.
Links Incident to Pre-Election Climate
Atiku described the development as one of several suspicious occurrences taking place ahead of the 2027 general election.
He did not directly accuse any individual or institution of responsibility.
However, he suggested that the incident forms part of a broader pattern aimed at distracting or undermining political opponents.
“As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination,” he stated.
The former Vice-President maintained that such actions would not derail his political ambitions or campaign.
The statement concluded: “Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again.
“The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges.”
Calls for Clarification
Atiku’s statement is expected to generate fresh debate over the security of personal banking information and the protection of financial data in Nigeria.
Presently, no evidence has yet been presented publicly to explain how the transfer was initiated or how the account details became known.
However, the former Vice-President has called attention to what he considers a serious issue affecting not only his privacy but also the broader security of Nigerians’ confidential financial information.
The incident comes as political activities continue to intensify ahead of the 2027 general election.
Concerns over data protection, cyber security, and political transparency are increasingly becoming part of the national conversation.
