Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest remarks against him, describing them as another unsuccessful attempt to distort historical facts and diminish his role in defending Nigeria’s democracy.

Reacting to Obasanjo’s recent criticism, the former vice president said he viewed the comments with disappointment rather than anger, arguing that they reflected deep-seated personal grievances rather than an objective account of events.

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the former president’s comments were evidence of a lingering resentment that had continued to shape his public narratives over the years.

According to Atiku, no amount of criticism or bitterness can erase his record of opposing what he described as the controversial third-term agenda during the Obasanjo administration, insisting that his position at the time was guided by constitutional principles and a commitment to democratic governance.

The ADC presidential candidate maintained that the root of the strained relationship between both political figures could be traced to his refusal to support the alleged bid to extend Obasanjo’s tenure beyond the constitutionally permitted limit.

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Atiku said he remains proud of the role he played during that period, stressing that he has never regretted standing against any move he believed could undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations.

He also argued that history would continue to record his contribution to resisting the third-term project, regardless of attempts by political actors to reinterpret past events.

The former vice president further noted that while political disagreements are not unusual, efforts to rewrite well-documented episodes in the nation’s political history would ultimately fail, insisting that facts remain stronger than personal sentiments.

Atiku’s response comes amid renewed public exchanges between the two former allies, whose relationship has been marked by years of political rivalry following their time in government.