Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has challenged the Presidency to explain the circumstances surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s reported $460,000 forfeiture in the United States instead of attacking his Washington-based lobbying firm.

Atiku made the remarks while reacting to criticism from the Presidency over the engagement of Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., reportedly hired to support the ADC’s interests in the United States.

He argued that the Presidency should focus on addressing questions surrounding the forfeiture rather than attempting to discredit the lobbyist or the firm working with his political movement.

According to Atiku, Tinubu surrendered $460,000 to the US government in 1993 following proceedings in a Chicago court in which the funds were linked to proceeds from heroin trafficking.

The former vice-president maintained that the issue remains a matter of public interest and should be addressed transparently by the Presidency.

Atiku’s comments come amid an escalating political exchange between his camp and the Tinubu administration over the ADC’s activities and its international engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.