Former Vice President and leader of the opposition coalition, Atiku Abubakar, has voiced strong accusations against President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the administration is using state institutions to harass and intimidate opposition figures in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Abubakar claimed that the recent suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and state lawmakers, along with the unlawful suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, are not isolated incidents but part of a deliberate strategy by the Tinubu government. He argued that these actions are aimed at subverting Nigeria’s democracy and compromising the will of the people.
Abubakar’s comments came in response to the unsealing of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office at the National Assembly. While acknowledging the development as a triumph, he vowed that such “authoritarian tendencies” would be met with resistance.
“It is reassuring that the voice of reason has prevailed at last with the unsealing of the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,” Atiku wrote. “Though the precious time denied the people of Kogi Central in the Senate can never be reclaimed, this struggle has not been in vain. It has proven, once again, that when we stand together, we can triumph over tyranny.”
The former Vice President stated that the opposition would do everything within the confines of the law to protect democracy and the people’s mandate from what he described as the “grip of authoritarianism.” He has previously criticized the Tinubu administration for its use of state institutions, including anti-corruption agencies, to allegedly coerce opposition figures into joining the ruling party.
