The Federal Government has dismissed reports claiming it is running a secret multi-agency operation to unlawfully arrest, detain, or prosecute prominent opposition politicians, describing the allegations as false and misleading.
According to the government, a document currently circulating on social media, which claims the existence of a special task force codenamed “ADP4VIP” — meaning Arrest, Detain, Prosecute for Very Important Persons — is completely fabricated. The document alleged that the task force, made up of anti-graft agencies and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, was created to target key opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, firmly denied the claims, saying no such programme or task force exists.
He explained that the document falsely accused agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit of being part of an unlawful operation aimed at weakening opposition political activity, particularly within the African Democratic Congress.
The minister said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on governance priorities, including economic reforms, tackling insecurity, boosting trade, and restoring investor confidence, rather than engaging in political witch-hunts.
He added that attempts to portray lawful accountability and anti-corruption efforts as political persecution were meant to distract the public and protect influential individuals from facing the law.
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Reaffirming the government’s commitment to democracy, the statement noted that the right to freedom of association and assembly is guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. It also stressed President Tinubu’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and respecting democratic principles.
The government further warned Nigerians against the spread of fake news and disinformation, noting that such narratives often increase as elections draw closer. Citizens were urged to remain vigilant and reject what the government described as politics of distortion and division.
The clarification comes at a time of heightened political discussions, including talks of opposition alliances and debates over the role of emerging political platforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
