Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of intentionally stifling opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections. He recently expressed concern over what he described as “a calculated assault” on opposition leaders across the country.
In a new BBC Hausa report, Atiku cited the invitation of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, by the police, alongside attacks on some opposition figures, as part of a deliberate move to weaken any opposition party that could potentially challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming polls.
Speaking via his Special Assistant on Media, AbdurRashid Shehu Sharada, the ADC member said that Nigerians can see the FG’s attempt to ensure that no formidable opposition platform emerges before 2027.
He alleged that the ruling party is currently exploiting divisions within opposition ranks while deploying wicked means to intimidate opponents.
“From the attack on a former Minister of Justice in Kebbi State where our ADC supporters were brutalised, to the disruption of an elder’s security meeting in Katsina led by Usman Bugaje, it is obvious that the government is encouraging political thuggery,” he said.
He further described the disruption of a recent ADC meeting in Kaduna, which El-Rufai attended, as worrisome, stressing that he cannot understand why no arrests were made.
Atiku concluded by saying that rather than apprehending the masterminds of the disruption, the police chose to invite El-Rufai and other opposition leaders for questioning.
