Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is raising the alarm again, saying Nigeria’s democracy is under serious threat. He didn’t hold back, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deliberately weakening opposition parties and shrinking democratic space in a way that could turn the country into a one-party state.
In a statement yesterday, signed by his spokesman Paul Ibe, Atiku said Nigerians have endured nearly three years of tough economic conditions under Tinubu, alongside policies and political moves he claims undermine democratic values.
According to Atiku, the ruling APC has been quietly executing a plan that mixes harsh economic decisions with political maneuvers aimed at sidelining viable opposition. He made it clear: the APC dominates “by default, not by merit.”
He described the erosion of opposition parties as one of the most worrying developments under the current administration and stressed that democracy simply cannot survive without strong alternatives. “The systematic weakening of opposition platforms is a grave danger to Nigeria’s democratic future,” he said.
Atiku also accused forces aligned with the Presidency of trying to destabilize the African Democratic Congress (ADC), meddling in its internal affairs and creating public pressure around the party’s choice of presidential candidate.
Responding to calls for him to step aside, Atiku dismissed them as irresponsible and anti-democratic, saying they are really just subtle attempts to weaken the opposition. “Atiku Abubakar, alongside other committed patriots, is central to this rescue mission. Any call for him to step aside is a betrayal of democratic choice and a disservice to Nigerians,” the statement read.
He went on to stress that the ADC remains committed to a transparent and competitive process in choosing its presidential flagbearer. External actors, he said, have no business intimidating, blackmailing, or sabotaging the party.
For now, the ADC is focusing on strengthening its grassroots presence, building strong local, state, and ward structures across the country. Atiku said the party is open to all genuine opposition figures, and when the time comes, everyone qualified will be free to contest without pressure.
In a pointed jab, Atiku argued that if anyone should step aside in the national interest, it’s President Tinubu, whom he described as increasingly a national liability amid worsening economic conditions and public frustration.
He also referenced former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent move to formally join the ADC in Enugu, calling it politically significant, especially in the Southeast. Atiku suggested that Obi’s move stirred panic among some in the ruling party, revealing their fear of the ADC’s rising influence. “The panic is obvious. The growing acceptance of the ADC as a credible alternative has clearly unsettled those benefiting from the status quo,” he said.
