The National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition, stating that the former vice president should be facing legal consequences over the controversial Halliburton bribery scandal rather than seeking Nigeria’s highest political office citing his links to the Halliburton bribery scandal.

In a strongly worded reaction, Arodiogbu recalled that the United States court system successfully prosecuted and jailed several individuals connected to the multi-million-dollar Halliburton bribery scheme involving contracts in Nigeria.

He revealed that while Atiku’s partners and associates faced justice abroad, the former Vice President has continued to present himself as a viable presidential candidate without answering fully to the serious allegations that trailed the scandal.

Arodiogbu maintained that the Halliburton case remains one of the most damaging corruption scandals in Nigeria’s democratic history. He said the fact that key figures linked to the bribery network were convicted and sentenced in the United States underscores the gravity of the matter and raises questions about accountability for those whose names featured prominently in related investigations and reports.

According to the APC South-East leader, it is inconsistent with the fight against corruption for individuals associated with such high-profile cases to freely aspire to the highest office in the land. He insisted that leadership at the presidential level demands a clean record and the confidence of the Nigerian people, especially at a time when the country is still grappling with the consequences of past graft.

Arodiogbu further stated that the Nigerian public should not be expected to overlook serious unresolved questions surrounding the Halliburton scandal simply because the principal figures continue to operate in the political space. He described Atiku’s continued presidential ambition as an affront to the principle of accountability that the country claims to uphold.

The APC chieftain reaffirmed the position of the All Progressives Congress that Nigeria needs leaders whose past actions can withstand public and legal scrutiny, not those whose names remain entangled in some of the country’s most notorious corruption cases.

He further called on Nigerians to carefully examine the backgrounds and records of all political aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that leadership should be built on trust and credibility.

Arodiogbu maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is focused on implementing reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian economy, and urged citizens to support policies designed to deliver long-term growth and prosperity.