Opposition faces existential threat below Tinubu — Atiku cries out
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of rendering opposition events impotent since he took the mantle of presidential management about three years in the past.
Due to this fact, Atiku, in an announcement launched on Tuesday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, known as on Nigerians to withstand efforts by the All Progressives Congress to intimidate and weaken the opposition.
He declared that no 2027 presidential aspirant will step down within the African Democratic Congress presidential race, including that every one aspirants will current themselves freely.
The previous Vice President’s feedback got here amid hypothesis that he’s going through stress to step apart for a Southern candidate to emerge because the ADC’s flagbearer within the upcoming election in opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku added that if anybody ought to step down, it’s President Bola Tinubu, whose management he described as a rising nationwide legal responsibility.
The assertion learn partly, “For almost three years, Nigerians have endured one of many harshest intervals in current historical past, an period outlined by punishing {economic} insurance policies and shrinking democratic area below President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“True to type, this administration has not solely inflicted widespread hardship however has pursued a calculated effort to get rid of political options. The target is obvious: a creeping, de facto one-party state.
“Maybe the Tinubu administration’s most annoying achievement has been the systematic weakening of opposition events, leaving the All Progressives Congress—regardless of its manifest failures—standing alone by default, not by advantage.
“Fortunately, patriotic leaders noticed this hazard early and selected resistance over silence by rallying across the African Democratic Congress because the nucleus of a reputable nationwide various.
“Predictably, brokers aligned with the Presidency are actually trying to destabilise the ADC from the skin, issuing reckless prescriptions about its inner affairs, significantly the selection of a presidential candidate.
“Let or not it’s acknowledged plainly: the ADC is on a nationwide rescue mission. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside different dedicated patriots, is central to this effort. Any name—overt or covert—for Atiku to step apart is a present to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian folks.”
He added that the ADC is dedicated to ending the purported misfortunes caused by the Tinubu-led APC, stressing that no type of intimidation, manipulation, or sabotage will derail this mission.
It continued, “The ADC has persistently affirmed its dedication to an open, clear, and aggressive course of for choosing its flagbearer. APC proxies and exterior meddlers don’t have any standing to intimidate, blackmail, or sabotage this democratic resolve.
“At current, the ADC is targeted on constructing sturdy ward, native authorities, and state buildings nationwide. Disruptors and infiltrators should permit the celebration to do that important work with out interference.
“The celebration stays open and welcoming to all real opposition figures. This inclusiveness—not coercion is the soul of democracy.
When the time comes, all certified aspirants will current themselves freely. Nobody is stepping down. If anybody ought to step apart, it’s President Tinubu—whose management has develop into a nationwide legal responsibility.
“The current public declaration of ADC membership by former Labour Occasion presidential candidate Peter Obi in Enugu, the political heartbeat of the Southeast, triggered open boasts by a serving minister and presidential aides about plans to undermine the celebration. Their concern is clear.
“Let there be no ambiguity: the ADC is set to finish the misfortune imposed by the Tinubu-led APC. No quantity of intimidation, intrigue, or sabotage will derail this rescue mission. Nigeria is not going to give up its democracy with no struggle.”
In the meantime, some opposition events in Ekiti State, below the auspices of the Inter-Occasion Advisory Committee, on Tuesday threatened to boycott the June 20 governorship election over the exclusion of Peoples Democratic Occasion governorship flagbearer, Wole Oluyede, from the official candidates’ listing.
IPAC State Chairman Owoola Daramola, who joined PDP supporters at a peaceable protest and assembly on the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee state headquarters in Ado Ekiti, mentioned opposition events wouldn’t take part within the election with any celebration or candidate excluded.
The protesters, carrying placards, chanted solidarity songs in entrance of the INEC workplace, at the same time as INEC officers held a gathering with the IPAC chairman and PDP leaders relating to the exclusion of the celebration from the election.
Daramola instructed journalists, “Because the IPAC chairman in Ekiti State, we need to set up one factor immediately! In Nigeria, the narrative should change; there should be free, honest, credible, and inclusive elections.
“All different political events need this. We’re not going into the election with anyone being excluded illegally.”
The IPAC chairman, noting that PDP carried out its main in response to the foundations and that its candidate emerged duly, added, “INEC ought to come out and inform the entire world what’s flawed with the candidacy of the PDP flagbearer, Dr Oluyede.
“In any other case, we are going to simply depart the election for the All Progressives Congress or whoever they need to run the election.
“However I let you know immediately, the fee ought to come out and inform us expressly why Oluyede’s identify was not revealed.”
A PDP chieftain, Ayodeji Ogunsakin, who represented his celebration on the occasion, counseled IPAC for its solidarity with PDP following the exclusion of its candidate.
Ogunsakin, a former PDP deputy governorship candidate, questioned why INEC didn’t permit the celebration’s nationwide management to add Oluyede’s identify on the INEC portal regardless of monitoring the primaries.
He mentioned, “It’s surprising to us. INEC supervised our primaries; there was no situation. We adopted due course of. There was no court docket order stopping us from conducting our primaries, and there was no court docket injunction or judgment after the primaries.
“If they’re referring to the difficulty of conference, we did our primaries within the state two weeks earlier than the conference.”
Ogunsakin additionally alleged APC connivance within the exclusion of the PDP candidate, saying, “APC mustn’t flip Nigeria right into a one-party state.
“There are particular parts in APC who’re afraid of contest. If APC is afraid of contest, they need to have finished effectively. They need to have carried out higher.”
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, mentioned the problems raised by PDP had been past the purview of his workplace.
Represented by the Head of Election and Occasion Monitoring Division, Kehinde Mustafa, Omoseyindemi mentioned issues regarding the listing of candidates are dealt with at INEC’s nationwide headquarters and suggested PDP to channel its grievances to INEC headquarters in Abuja for mandatory consideration.
He reiterated the physique’s dedication to neutrality, professionalism, and strict adherence to the Electoral Act and its pointers, stressing that INEC stays centered on conducting a clear and peaceable governorship election within the state.
Recall that INEC, within the listing of candidates for the June 20 Ekiti governorship election launched on December 29, 2025, excluded the identify of the PDP candidate.
Oluyede and PDP leaders in Ekiti State have faulted the exclusion and threatened to problem it, vowing to take each mandatory step to make sure he participates within the election and emerges as governor.
Based on INEC pointers, political events’ alternative to withdraw or substitute candidates lapses on January 12, 2026, whereas the electoral physique is anticipated to publish the ultimate listing of nominated candidates on January 19, 2026.
Senator Magnus Abe, the 2023 Social Democratic Occasion governorship candidate in Rivers State, has dismissed claims that Nigeria is drifting towards a one-party state, urging Nigerians to adjust to the brand new tax reform regulation.
Abe acknowledged that the mass defections of thousands and thousands of Nigerians to the ruling All Progressives Congress don’t sign a transfer towards one-party rule, as some opposition events have steered.
“Nigeria isn’t turning into a one-party state. Somewhat, in Tinubu, Nigerians have merely discovered a pacesetter they will belief,” Abe mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.
He additionally expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him as Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Fee (NUPRC), describing the function as a singular alternative to contribute to the nation’s ongoing {economic} transformation.
Abe famous that the appointment underscores Tinubu’s skill to draw followers by real loyalty and advantage. “My appointment demonstrates as soon as once more the President’s distinctive qualities that make him a grasp of the sport. Because of this 1000’s of individuals like me have adopted him through the years, and thousands and thousands extra are nonetheless following. Thanks, Mr. President. You’re a father who rewards loyalty and promotes competence. I’ll by no means cease following you,” he added.
Highlighting political achievements in Rivers State, Abe described FCT Minister Nyesom Wike because the “‘001’ of the Tinubu political household in Rivers State,” praising him for delivering the state to Tinubu and the APC through the nation’s most difficult elections. He famous that Wike’s help has been pivotal to the success of the Tinubu-led “Renewed Hope Household” coalition.
Abe urged Nigerians to ignore critics, adjust to the tax reform, and help the federal government’s reform agenda, including: “Higher days are coming for our nation. Right now, the President is doing issues in another way, and the numbers are starting to indicate that Nigeria is on the fitting course.”