Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Tinubu’s administration of silencing opposition voices through arrests and intimidation. He warns that critics may soon face mass incarceration as the APC allegedly pushes for a one-party state. The presidency denies these claims, calling them politically motivated.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of systematically targeting opposition voices to establish a one-party state.
Atiku’s concerns follow the recent arrests of activist Omoyele Sowore and Professor Usman Yusuf, both vocal critics of the government. In a social media post on Thursday, he claimed the All Progressives Congress (APC) is actively working to suppress dissent, warning that opposition leaders could soon face mass incarceration.
“When I raised alarm about the APC’s strategy to silence critics through intimidation and harassment, I became a primary target,” he stated. He cited Sowore’s prosecution and Yusuf’s arrest as part of a broader effort to eliminate political opposition.
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, described these developments as a “grim reality” for Nigerian democracy. He warned that continued suppression of dissent could further weaken democratic institutions and erode public trust in governance.
The Tinubu administration has repeatedly dismissed such allegations, insisting that legal actions against opposition figures are not politically motivated. However, political analysts argue that these incidents reflect a growing intolerance for criticism within the government.
As opposition voices continue to raise concerns, the debate over political freedoms in Nigeria intensifies, with calls for stronger protections against political persecution.
