Obasanjo Denies 2003 Election Deception and Alleges Atiku Plot

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo issued a formal rebuttal on July 23, 2026, rejecting allegations made by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba. In a letter responding to an article published in The Legal Observer, Obasanjo described Osoba's claims that he deceived leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) before the 2003 general elections as "farfetched" and inaccurate.

Obasanjo defended the 2003 election results as largely genuine, asserting that the defeat of most AD governors reflected political realities. He denied using state apparatus to manipulate outcomes, though he conceded that figures were "murderously changed" in one state. He maintained that his political engagements were guided by openness and national interest.

In the same correspondence, Obasanjo alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar orchestrated an impeachment plot against him during his first term. He claimed Atiku paid then-Speaker Ghali Na’Abba N5 million to initiate proceedings while Obasanjo was away from the office. According to Obasanjo, Atiku later pursued a "two-track approach" to secure the presidency, aligning with Alex Ekwueme and attempting to persuade South-West governors to support his 2007 ambitions.

Despite the political dispute, Obasanjo praised Osoba for allocating the land in Abeokuta used for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.