Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the reported attacks on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya.
Atiku condemned the incidents, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of intimidating opposition politicians and their supporters.
The former vice-president, in a statement shared on his X account, described the reported attacks as “deeply troubling and unacceptable”, warning that such incidents could threaten Nigeria’s democratic process.
He alleged that the attacks exposed the extent to which the APC administration was prepared to suppress opposition leaders and their supporters.
“It is particularly disturbing that while President Bola Tinubu is away on spiritual pilgrimage, political enforcers and thugs loyal to his party are unleashing terror on his political opponents at home. These two realities cannot coexist in a democracy,” Atiku wrote.
He also expressed concern over what he described as continued attacks on opposition figures and the unexplained disappearance of critical social media influencers.
According to him, the developments raised concerns about a possible attempt to silence dissenting voices and weaken opposition activities in the country.
Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of creating an atmosphere in which opposition politicians could be intimidated for exercising their constitutional rights.
He called for immediate and transparent investigations into the reported attacks, insisting that the government must guarantee a political environment where all parties can freely participate in the forthcoming general elections.
The former vice-president also raised concerns over alleged harassment of ADC supporters in Sokoto State, claiming that a local security outfit had been targeting party members.
“I have it on good authority that a local security outfit in Sokoto State has been harassing ADC supporters, manhandling citizens simply for wearing ADC merchandise,” he stated.
He warned that the government must not allow security agencies or other groups to become instruments for intimidating political opponents.
“We shall resist every ongoing attempt to cancel political opposition in Nigeria,” Atiku added.
He also declared that Nigerians must be allowed to freely participate in an electoral contest that would determine the country’s political future.
“The ruling APC has failed in its mandate. Nigerians must be allowed to freely participate in an electoral contest that will determine the fate of this administration,” he wrote.
Atiku’s reaction comes a day after Sowore accused individuals allegedly linked to the Ekiti State Government House and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of being involved in an attack on him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Sowore, who spoke from a hospital in a video circulated on social media, alleged that the attack occurred shortly after he completed an interview at MIDAS FM 90.5 in Ado-Ekiti.
The activist claimed that suspected political thugs descended on his team following the radio appearance, accusing DSS operatives of providing tracking and operational support to the attackers.
“This is the level of infamy to which Nigeria has been subjected! Those who brutally attacked us in Ado-Ekiti today came from the Government House. They are well known, and they were provided with tracking and operational support by the DSS,” he wrote on X.
He also alleged that DSS operatives had been trailing and harassing him and members of his team since their arrival in Ekiti State on Thursday.
Sowore further claimed that the security operatives had threatened the manager of a restaurant where he and his team had earlier eaten, warning that they should not be allowed to use the premises again.
The reported attack initially raised concerns about the activist’s whereabouts after an earlier post on his Facebook page suggested that he had been abducted.
However, he later appeared in a video from the hospital, where he spoke about the incident and accused those allegedly responsible of working with security operatives.
Meanwhile, the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, reportedly escaped unhurt after gunmen opened fire on his convoy near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 9pm on Friday, shortly after Dan’iya escorted former Sokoto State Governor and serving Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport.
Although the ADC candidate was said to have escaped without injuries, some vehicles in his convoy reportedly sustained damage during the shooting.
Dan’iya, through his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, accused personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard of obstructing his convoy before gunshots were fired.
He alleged that the security personnel blocked the movement of his convoy and claimed they were acting on instructions from their superiors not to allow ADC members into Sokoto State.
The statement also alleged that two DSS operatives attached to Dan’iya’s security detail were detained during the confrontation.
The ADC candidate subsequently called for an immediate investigation, questioning why security personnel would allegedly prevent a governorship candidate from moving freely within the state.
He also disclosed that he had visited the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police to formally report the incident and request police intervention.
“If security personnel can block a gubernatorial candidate, fire gunshots during a confrontation, damage his vehicle and detain officers assigned to his protection, then the people of Sokoto deserve urgent answers,” Dan’iya was quoted as saying.
