The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to substantiate his claim that President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) offered a N50 million bribe to opposition parties.

Irked by Atiku’s allegation, APGA said in a statement that it was compelled to respond to the baseless allegation made by the former Vice President when he said the ruling APC is buying over opposition parties with N50 million.

In its reaction, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, on Thursday, dismissed Atiku’s allegation as baseless, demanding that Atiku name the political parties that had allegedly received the funds or withdraw his claim.

Opara condemned the assertion in the strongest terms, as it is without any proof or substance, adding that it is shameful that Atiku has resorted to spreading unfounded rumours, which only serve to heat the polity and undermine the country’s democratic process.

He said, “If indeed Atiku’s interest is to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, we urge him to provide specific details of the opposition parties that have collected the said N50 million. It’s time for him to put up or shut up!”

The party insisted that it remains committed to issue-based politics and constructive engagement, rather than lending credence to sensational claims.

“We, therefore, challenge Atiku to mention names, provide evidence, and substantiate his claims. Anything short of this is mere political grandstanding, which will not be taken seriously by Nigerians,” the statement added.

Atiku made the allegation on Monday while speaking as a panellist at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is on the verge of collapse if such practices are allowed to go on unabated.

The event was organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, and the National Peace Committee. The former VP warned that Nigeria’s democracy was at risk if the alleged practice continued.