Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned what he described as a “coordinated and dangerous assault on dissenting voices” in Nigeria, warning that recent developments under the administration of President Bola Tinubu signal a troubling drift toward authoritarian rule.
In a statement shared on his official X account on Friday, Atiku expressed concern over the summons of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the harassment of African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders, the attack on former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the violent disruption of the Katsina Elders Forum security meeting.
“The recent events in Kaduna, Katsina, and other areas highlight a troubling trend towards authoritarianism under the Tinubu administration,” Atiku wrote.
“These incidents are not isolated. Instead, they signify a coordinated and dangerous assault on dissenting voices, civic freedoms, and the very essence of pluralistic democracy.”
The former Vice President stressed that dissent and opposition are critical to democratic governance, warning that the criminalisation of opposing views and the use of security agencies for political intimidation undermine the republic’s foundations.
“No government that resorts to intimidation and uses security agencies as weapons against perceived opponents can genuinely uphold democratic principles,” he said.
Atiku further cautioned that Nigeria is “dangerously close to slipping into authoritarian rule” if such patterns of repression continue unchecked. He urged citizens across political, religious, and ethnic divides to see the defence of democracy as a collective responsibility.
“Defending our democracy cannot be the sole responsibility of the opposition; it is a collective national duty. Power is transient, but history will harshly judge those who wield it against the people instead of in their service,” he said.
Atiku added that Nigeria belongs to all citizens, not “the ruling party or any single individual,” stressing the importance of preserving liberty, justice, and the rule of law.
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His comments come amid rising concerns in the North over the alleged use of security agencies to stifle opposition gatherings. Earlier this week, El-Rufai accused the police of stopping an ADC meeting in Kaduna, while the Katsina Elders Forum’s security reform meeting was disrupted. Former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami was also reportedly attacked by suspected political thugs.
