…Warns world leaders over Nigeria’s democracy
Former Vice-President and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of pursuing a dangerous agenda aimed at turning Nigeria into a one-party state, warning that such actions could undermine the country’s hard-earned democracy.
Atiku made the allegation yesterday while reacting to attempts to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) through judicial processes, describing the move as part of a broader strategy to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja, the former Vice-President said the development was evidence of what he called Tinubu’s desperation to retain power by all means, including undemocratic methods.
According to him, any effort to deny Nigerians the freedom to participate in a free, fair and credible election poses a serious threat to national stability and could trigger chaos and anarchy. “The participation of citizens in a free, fair and credible poll is the soul of democracy, and any attempt to stifle such freedom of choice could be a trigger to chaos and anarchy”, he stated.
Atiku further alleged that Nigerians were beginning to witness what he described as the President’s true disposition towards democratic principles. “Nigerians are now seeing the true colours of President Tinubu, who pretends to be a democrat, but whose body language and the sinister activities of his agents contradict his professed commitment to free and fair elections”, he said.
The Wazirin Adamawa urged President Tinubu to emulate former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, whom he praised for allowing opposition parties to thrive during their respective administrations.
He noted that despite Buhari’s military background, his government did not seek the deregistration of opposition parties, while Jonathan consistently maintained that no political ambition should be worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Atiku argued that a genuinely popular government should have nothing to fear from open political competition. “If you are truly popular and your policies have positively bettered the lives of the citizens, you should not be afraid of a free and fair competition”, he said.
He added: “Tinubu cannot be a champion of democracy under military dictatorship and now become the worst enemy of everything that democracy stands for. You cannot attempt to rule the people against their will and still pretend that you are committed to free and fair elections in 2027”.
The former Vice-President also appealed to members of the Judiciary to resist political pressure and safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He warned judges against allowing themselves to be used by politicians seeking to undermine democracy for personal gain, stressing that the Judiciary remains the last hope of the common people. “Governments will come and go. Hence, the Judiciary must guard its integrity as the last hope of the masses. Do not allow unscrupulous politicians to stain your reputation for their own short-term gain at the expense of justice”, he stated.
Atiku further cautioned that while many judges in Nigeria have maintained high ethical standards, the actions of a few who allegedly become instruments in political battles could damage public confidence in the nation’s judicial system.
The ADC presidential candidate also called on the international community and global democratic institutions to pay close attention to political developments in Nigeria, warning that any attempt to suppress opposition voices or manipulate democratic processes could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s unity and stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
