Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of undermining the country’s democracy, citing recent political developments as attempts to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a post on his X account, Atiku welcomed the reopening of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office, which had previously been sealed, but said the closure had deprived Kogi Central constituents of representation. He linked the incident to political tensions in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara and some members of the state House of Assembly were suspended, describing the move as unconstitutional.
Atiku also alleged that the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) is using state institutions to target opposition figures. He cited reports of harassment in Kaduna and Katsina, including an incident at an African Democratic Congress event where former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai was reportedly attacked.
Atiku argued that such actions point to a broader strategy to silence dissent and restrict democratic participation. He warned that if unchecked, these developments could erode democratic gains made since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.
“They are deliberate markers of the Tinubu administration’s strategy as 2027 approaches: to subvert our hard-earned democracy and compromise the will of the people at any cost” he said
The 2023 presidential election, won by Tinubu, was contested by Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who alleged irregularities. Though the courts upheld Tinubu’s victory, both Atiku and Obi have since suggested the possibility of forming a coalition to challenge the APC in 2027.
Atiku pledged to pursue lawful measures to protect democracy, urging Nigerians to resist what he described as a drift towards authoritarian rule.
“Let it be clear: on our part, we shall do everything legitimate and within the bounds of the law to protect our democracy, defend the sovereignty of the people’s mandate, and rescue our nation from the grip of authoritarianism” he said.
