Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of intimidating opposition politicians following reported attacks on African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya.
Atiku, who is the ADC presidential candidate, described the incidents as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and called on the Federal Government to ensure that opposition parties and their supporters could participate freely in political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He made the position known in a statement posted on his verified X account on Saturday, demanding immediate and transparent investigations into the two incidents.
The former vice-president alleged that the attacks reflected the growing use of intimidation against opposition figures and accused political enforcers loyal to the APC of unleashing violence on the party’s opponents.
He said the incidents were particularly troubling because they occurred while President Bola Tinubu was away on a spiritual pilgrimage.
“These twin assaults expose the extent to which the ruling APC administration is prepared to oppress and intimidate opposition leaders and their supporters,” Atiku said.
He added that the reported attacks and the disappearance of some social media influencers raised concerns about what he described as a possible drift towards a censored political environment.
“The continued attacks on opposition figures and the unexplained disappearance of critical social media influencers are clear red flags of a dangerous slide toward a censored state where the opposition is crushed by the brute force of the current government,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate’s reaction followed an attack on Dan’iya’s convoy near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto on Friday night.
The governorship candidate reportedly escaped unhurt after suspected gunmen opened fire on his convoy at about 9pm on October 30, shortly after he had escorted former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the airport.
The shooting reportedly damaged the candidate’s bulletproof sport utility vehicles.
Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufae, said the command had received a report about the incident and would take necessary action.
He added that anyone found responsible would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
However, Dan’iya’s media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, alleged that personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and the Sokoto State Community Guard blocked the candidate’s convoy and prevented it from passing through the airport area.
According to the aide, the personnel claimed they were acting on instructions from their superiors not to allow ADC members into Sokoto State.
The statement further alleged that efforts by members of Dan’iya’s security team to resolve the confrontation failed before gunshots were fired, damaging the vehicles.
It also claimed that two Department of State Services operatives attached to the candidate’s security detail were detained during the incident.
The allegations against the security personnel had yet to be independently verified as of the time of filing this report. The Sokoto State Government, Sokoto Marshal and Community Guard had also not issued official responses explaining their accounts of the confrontation.
Atiku said he had received reports that a local security outfit in Sokoto had been harassing ADC supporters and manhandling residents for wearing the party’s branded clothing.
He demanded that the Tinubu administration refrain from actions capable of restricting opposition activities and guarantee a free, fair and competitive electoral process.
“We shall resist every ongoing attempt to cancel political opposition in Nigeria. 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 said.
The former vice-president also called for investigations into the reported attacks, insisting that political disagreements should not result in violence or restrictions on citizens’ democratic rights.
Meanwhile, Dan’iya had called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other relevant authorities to investigate the Sokoto incident, identify those responsible and establish whether unlawful directives had been issued.
He also urged authorities to preserve available video footage, operational records and eyewitness accounts to support an impartial investigation.
Despite the incident, the ADC candidate appealed to his supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation, saying he would continue pursuing his political ambition peacefully and lawfully.
West Trybe reports that the allegations by Atiku and the Sokoto ADC candidate have brought renewed attention to the safety of opposition politicians and the conduct of security outfits ahead of the 2027 elections, with calls for independent investigations to establish responsibility and protect political participation.
