Atiku Abubakar
Abayomi Susan
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned against any form of intimidation or harm directed at opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that the safety of Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the protection of democratic freedoms must be guaranteed.
Reacting to recent political developments, Atiku declared that no harm should come to Obi, arguing that an attack on one opposition figure amounts to an attack on the country’s democratic values. He maintained that when opposition leaders are intimidated or citizens begin to fear expressing their political beliefs, democracy itself is placed at risk.
“The Presidency must understand that democratic leadership demands composure, not contempt,” Atiku said. “When a citizen, particularly an opposition figure, raises concerns about the state of the nation or personal safety, the responsibility of government is to respond with reassurance, statesmanship and facts—not insults. Democracies are strengthened through constructive engagement, not hostile rhetoric.”
The former vice president further argued that the nation’s real challenges are poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption, kidnapping and the persistent loss of lives across communities. According to him, any government that devotes more attention to confronting political opponents than addressing these pressing national issues risks losing sight of the true purpose of governance.
Atiku also urged the Federal Government to channel the same level of urgency it applies to political communication toward securing the release of kidnapped Nigerians and restoring public confidence in the country’s security architecture. He lamented that many schoolchildren, teachers and other innocent citizens remain in captivity, insisting that their rescue should be a top national priority.
In addition, the ADC presidential candidate renewed his call for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, emphasizing that justice must be guided by fairness, impartiality and strict adherence to constitutional provisions. He noted that the continued detention of El-Rufai has generated widespread public concern and reiterated that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, is entitled to due process, equal protection under the law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.
