Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the Presidency’s defence of the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) exposes deep institutional failures within President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the Presidency’s response to the allegations amounted to “a public confession of institutional collapse” rather than an effective defence of the government.
According to him, the explanation offered by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga raises more questions than answers about how an alleged fictitious agency could have operated within the country’s governance structure.

“A government cannot claim to be exposing fraud while simultaneously struggling to explain how that same fraud found its way into the very heart of the Nigerian state,” Atiku said.
He contended that if the PFIPC never existed, as claimed by the Presidency, it would be difficult to explain allegations that the agency appeared in official government processes.

The former vice president questioned claims that a private individual could allegedly forge presidential documents, impersonate senior government officials, establish an office within the Federal Secretariat, open multiple bank accounts, engage with foreign diplomats and operate for an extended period without assistance from insiders.
Atiku further alleged that public records indicate that about ₦1.3 billion was appropriated for the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act, alongside the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

He asked who prepared and submitted the budget estimates, defended them before the National Assembly, approved the allocation and ultimately assented to the budget if the agency did not exist.
The former vice president also criticised the National Assembly, saying lawmakers failed in their oversight responsibilities if funds were appropriated for a non-existent agency.

He equally called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to explain how an alleged fictitious agency could have navigated the country’s financial system, while accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of selective anti-corruption enforcement.
According to Atiku, regardless of whether the matter was the result of an elaborate fraud or systemic governance failure, the incident demonstrates serious institutional weaknesses.

“Whether this was an elaborate fraud aided by insiders or a catastrophic failure of governance, one conclusion is unavoidable: government failed,” he said.
He argued that the controversy reflects broader governance challenges, alleging that while Nigerians continue to bear the hardship of economic reforms, public resources are still vulnerable to abuse.

Atiku called for an independent investigation into the matter, insisting that all individuals found culpable should be held accountable regardless of their position.
“We therefore demand a truly independent investigation that follows the evidence wherever it leads. No sacred cows. No political protection. No selective justice,” he said.