The former vice president wrote that he met with ADC candidates from Adamawa State, including what he described as the party’s governorship candidate, “Hamman Tukur Ribadu.”

In the Facebook post, Atiku said: “Earlier today, I met with my fellow 2027 Adamawa State African Democratic Congress candidates across all elective positions, including our governorship candidate, Hamman Tukur Ribadu.

“I am pleased to see the party uniting to form a common front. I have encouraged them to maintain these efforts.”

Atiku’s statement has generated chaos within the party, as Ambassador Engineer Omar Suleiman, popularly known as Omarana, has been publicly identified as the party’s governorship candidate.

Recent media reports have also continued to identify Suleiman as the ADC governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

The controversy follows Atiku’s aide, Phrank Shaibu, dismissing claims that his principal was trying to replace Suleiman.

He described allegations that Atiku was involved in any attempt to replace a duly nominated ADC candidate as “entirely false, malicious and the product of mischief-makers.”

Shaibu said Atiku had “neither initiated nor sanctioned any move to replace any duly nominated candidate of the ADC anywhere in Nigeria,” insisting that the former Vice President respected the party’s internal democratic processes.

“We therefore urge our members, supporters and the general public to disregard this baseless propaganda, which is clearly intended to foment unnecessary tension and distract the party from its collective mission,” Shaibu said.

The panel has questioned a number of senior government officials on their involvement in the processes through which the purported agency appeared to gain official recognition.

Those quizzed include the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack; the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Director of Banking Services, Hamisu Abdullahi; the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu; and Joshua Luka, Head of the Federal Projects Financial Management Department in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The officials told the committee they had relied on information and documents supplied by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the agency’s Director-General.

Adeyemi had earlier claimed he paid ₦400 million to the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, through a proxy, to secure his appointment as Director-General of the outfit, he, however, noted that he never met Gbajabiamila in person.

The Presidency and the Chief of Staff’s office have rejected the allegation, insisting the so-called agency does not exist and accusing Adeyemi of forging official documents to further his alleged scheme.

The committee had equally planned to question Adeyemi at an undisclosed venue, but Sunday Punch learnt that the plan was halted after Adeyemi insisted on testifying in the open, before journalists and his legal team.

Sunday Punch also gathered that members of the 12-man committee remain divided over the fact that Gbajabiamila has not been formally invited to appear and respond to the allegation, despite his name featuring prominently in the matter.

A source close to the proceedings, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter, said the disagreement was central to the delay in finalising the report.

“Some of the committee members feel there should have been a presentation from Gbajabiamila since Adeyemi is alleged to have mentioned his name in the saga. So, writing a report without listening to him may attract criticism from the public.

“Secondly, some believe that the committee should write the court to release Adeyemi to testify before it in public. These are the issues delaying the report,” the source said.