By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the President Bola Tinubu’s government of orchestrating a systematic campaign to dismantle opposition parties, warning that Nigeria risks sliding into a “de facto one-party state” through economic hardship and political intimidation.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, signed by his spokesman Paul Ibe, Atiku described the past three years under Tinubu as one of the “harshest periods” in recent Nigerian history, marked by punishing policies and shrinking democratic space.
The statement highlighted what it called a deliberate effort to weaken opposition platforms, leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dominant “by default, not by merit.”
“True to form, this administration has not only inflicted widespread hardship but has pursued a calculated effort to eliminate political alternatives. The objective is clear: a creeping, de facto one-party state,” he said.
Atiku praised patriotic leaders for rallying around the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a credible alternative, but alleged that presidential agents are now attempting to destabilise the party from outside—particularly by pressuring Atiku Abubakar to “step aside” as a potential presidential candidate.
“Let it be stated plainly: the ADC is on a national rescue mission. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar… is central to this effort. Any call—overt or covert—for Atiku to ‘step aside’ is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people,” the statement stressed.
The release reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to an open and competitive primary process, rejecting interference from “APC proxies and external meddlers.”
“The ADC is determined to end the misfortune imposed by the Tinubu-led APC. No amount of intimidation, intrigue, or sabotage will derail this rescue mission. Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight,” he stressed.
He further referenced recent boasts by a serving minister and presidential aides, following Peter Obi’s high-profile defection to the ADC in Enugu, as evidence of the government’s fear of a strengthened opposition.
“Their fear is evident,” the statement noted, adding that disruptors must allow the party to build its structures nationwide without interference.
