Tinubu ‘strangling democracy,’ pushing Nigeria toward authoritarian rule — Atiku warns
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing warning that Nigeria’s democracy is under serious threat, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of steering the country toward authoritarian rule through intimidation and political repression.
In a blistering statement released Monday, Atiku—now one of the leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—condemned what he described as a “state-sponsored siege” by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
According to Atiku’s media office, DSS operatives moved to seal Malami’s residences and businesses shortly after his visit, despite the matter reportedly being before the courts—an action he labelled as unlawful and politically driven.
“This is not governance. This is intimidation. This is a regime weaponizing state power to silence dissent,” Atiku declared.
⚖️ Allegations of Political Persecution
The former vice president warned that Nigeria is witnessing a rapid erosion of democratic norms, alleging that state institutions are increasingly being deployed to target opposition figures.
“What we are seeing is the naked abuse of power—security agencies deployed not for national security, but for settling political scores. This is how democracies die,” he said.
Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of orchestrating a deliberate campaign to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This government is terrified of competition. That is why it is resorting to brute force—harassing, intimidating, and attempting to break opposition leaders into submission,” he stated.
Claims of Coercion and One-Party Drift
He alleged that prominent figures, including former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai and Malami, are being pressured to abandon opposition politics and align with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This is political extortion at the highest level—join us or be destroyed,” Atiku said.
Raising alarm over what he described as a creeping one-party dominance, Atiku warned that the country risks reducing elections to mere formalities if dissent continues to be suppressed.
“When opposition is criminalised and dissent is punished, elections become a sham,” he added.
‘Dangerous Replay’ of Abacha Era
Drawing parallels with Nigeria’s dark past, Atiku likened the current political climate to the self-succession attempt under former military ruler Sani Abacha.
“We have seen this script before. It ended in national disgrace. What is happening now is a dangerous replay—one Nigerians must resist,” he warned.
He also accused the administration of using anti-corruption agencies as tools of coercion, alleging that political leaders are being forced to defect under threat of investigation or prosecution.
Final Warning
In a strongly worded conclusion, Atiku described the situation as a looming democratic crisis.
“Freedom of choice is the lifeblood of democracy. Once you kill it, dictatorship takes over,” he said.
“What Tinubu is engineering is nothing short of a civilian coup.”
He added that leadership should not be about domination but accountability, warning that Nigerians are closely watching the unfolding political developments.
