Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a fierce attack on President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing them of using state institutions to suppress opposition parties and undermine democratic processes ahead of the 2027 general election. In a statement issued on Saturday, May 30, 2026, by the Atiku Media Office, the veteran politician described the government’s actions as part of a growing pattern of political intolerance and warned that Nigeria’s democracy was being pushed towards “creeping authoritarianism.”
Atiku’s outburst followed the dramatic denial of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) access to the A-Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, where the Turaki‑led faction of the party had planned to hold a special convention to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its 2027 presidential candidate. The event had been scheduled for Saturday, May 30, but was thwarted after the FCTA issued a directive warning hotels and event centres against hosting gatherings by political groups not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The administration threatened to revoke the certificates of occupancy of any facility that violated the order.
On the eve of the convention, more than 20 truckloads of police personnel were deployed to block access to the road leading to the event centre, according to a communiqué issued by the PDP after the convention. The party accused the FCTA of “brazen use of unmitigated power” and alleged that the management of the event centre had informed them of threats from Wike that their certificate of occupancy would be revoked and their facility demolished if the PDP event was allowed to hold. With the venue sealed and access blocked, party leaders were forced to abandon plans for a full‑scale convention and instead held an emergency meeting at an alternative location in Area 10, Garki district, where they unanimously affirmed Jonathan as their presidential candidate in a brief ceremony lasting no more than 20 minutes.
Reacting to the development, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of deploying state machinery to muzzle opposition parties, describing the action as “reprehensible” and a “direct manifestation of Tinubu’s panic‑driven tactics ahead of the 2027 polls.” The statement read: “The action of Minister Wike to deny the PDP the opportunity from holding an event in line with its constitutional right represents a blatant abuse of the party’s rights and an unacceptable infringement on the freedom of association and peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Atiku argued that public and private facilities in the Federal Capital Territory exist to serve all Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliation, and that the minister’s refusal to allow a legitimate political activity was “discriminatory” and a “clear demonstration of partisan interference” by the Tinubu administration. He pointed to what he described as a double standard in the application of government authority, noting that a sponsored faction of the ADC had been allowed to hold a public event in Abuja just days earlier without facing any threats. “It was under the same leadership of Wike in the FCT that a sponsored faction of the ADC had a public event a few days ago with no one threatening them,” he said.
“This sets a dangerous precedent that undermines Nigeria’s democracy, the rule of law and the integrity of our elections,” Atiku added. “This high‑handed action is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s emerging pattern of deploying state institutions and resources to frustrate political opposition and weaken the democratic process in the build‑up to the 2027 presidential election. By weaponising the FCT administration against opposition parties, the Tinubu administration is revealing its intolerance for political pluralism and its determination to create an uneven playing field that favours only the ruling party and its cohorts.”
Atiku, who dumped the crisis‑ridden PDP for the ADC where he clinched the party’s presidential ticket, warned that the administration’s actions were driven by a profound fear of facing the Nigerian electorate in a free, fair and transparent contest. “The Tinubu government is afraid of free and fair elections and their tactics to suppress the opposition will not succeed. Nigerians are resolute in their demand for genuine democracy, accountability, and leadership that respects the constitution rather than subverting it,” he declared.
The Turaki‑led PDP, in its own statement, also condemned the blockade and urged President Tinubu to de‑escalate political tensions. “This shameful oppression has validated the widely perceived fear of the PDP by the ruling party,” the party said, warning that if left unchecked, “full blown dictatorship will sprout within a democracy, which eventually may lead to the collapse of democracy.” Despite the intimidation, the party proceeded with the affirmation of Jonathan as its candidate, with his certificate of return received on his behalf by a House of Representatives member from Bayelsa State, Fred Agbedi. Prominent party leaders present included Professor Jerry Gana, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, and Senator Adolphus Wabara.
The crisis over the convention venue is the latest escalation in the long‑running leadership battle within the PDP, which has split into two warring factions. The faction backed by Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is currently recognised by INEC and has already adopted former lawmaker Senator Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate for 2027. The Turaki‑led faction, however, insists on its legitimacy and has rallied behind Jonathan. The FCTA’s directive, while presented as a security measure, has effectively empowered the INEC‑recognised faction while crippling the rival group’s ability to organise in the capital.
Atiku, who has himself emerged as the presidential candidate of the ADC after defecting from the PDP, used the incident to position himself as a defender of democratic freedoms. He called on the FCT Minister to immediately stop the “unconstitutional action” and grant all opposition parties unfettered access to public and private facilities for their legitimate political activities. He also urged civil society organisations and democratic stakeholders to rise against what he termed “creeping authoritarianism before it further erodes the foundations of our republic.”
The controversy has deepened political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties increasingly voicing concerns over what they see as attempts to shrink democratic space and tilt the electoral environment in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The police blockade and venue denial have also raised questions about the independence of security agencies and the extent to which state power is being deployed in partisan disputes. For now, the Turaki‑led PDP has vowed to proceed with its campaign despite the obstacles, while Atiku continues to position himself as the leading voice of opposition against an administration he accuses of playing emperor.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News
🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew
📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments