Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned the federal government against using repressive measures to stifle political opposition.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, said the police invitation extended to former Kaduna State Governor and chieftain of the opposition ADC, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, alongside other attacks launched on dissenting voices, amounted to a deliberate and dangerous clampdown on the opposition.
He expressed concern that certain actions by the government appeared to be a systematic witch-hunt against individuals and groups who do not share or support the views of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Atiku’s media aide, AbdurRashid Shehu Sharada, told the BBC that Nigerians are witnessing how President Tinubu is working to ensure that by the 2027 elections, there will be no viable opposition party left to challenge him.
He said: “If you look closely, you will see that opposition parties in Nigeria have never been in such a precarious situation. The ruling party is using various methods to sow division and misunderstanding within these parties.”
“Take for example the attack on the former Minister of Justice in Kebbi State where many of our ADC supporters were injured. Everyone knows that was clearly political persecution,” Sharada added.
He further cited an elders’ meeting in Katsina State, convened under the leadership of Usman Bugaje to discuss security challenges, which was disrupted by political thugs allegedly sent to stop the gathering.
Sharada said the issue had now gone beyond ordinary politics. “During the ADC meeting chaired by former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, security officials stood by as thugs disrupted the event. Yet no arrests were made, no action was taken. Instead, shockingly, the Nigeria Police went ahead to summon El-Rufai and other opposition members for questioning,” he said.
However, Abdul’Aziz Abdul’Aziz, spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed Atiku’s claims, saying there was nothing unusual about the police actions.
He said: “Firstly, no government official has harassed anyone. As for the police invitation to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, that cannot be described as persecution. He made certain statements at a Kaduna gathering, and there were people moving around with weapons. Naturally, the law must take its course.”
On the attack in Kebbi and the Katsina meeting disruption, Abdul’Aziz said the federal government had no hand in those incidents.
Political analysts, however, have stressed the need for both the ruling party and the opposition to exercise restraint and fairness as they navigate Nigeria’s volatile political terrain.
