Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, declaring that the safety of opposition leader Peter Obi is a constitutional obligation and a critical test of Nigeria's democratic credentials. In a statement issued on Thursday, July 9, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku cautioned the Presidency against any action that could endanger opposition figures, insisting that the true measure of any democracy is not how comfortably those in power wield authority, but how safely those outside power can exercise their constitutional rights.
Atiku's warning came in response to an interview in which Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, expressed grave concerns over his safety. During an interview on the With Chude podcast, Obi alleged that the Federal Government was systematically frustrating his activities and targeting opposition figures. When asked about the possibility of not being a candidate in the 2027 election, Obi responded with stark alarm, saying he might not even be alive, insisting that every single thing he does for a living, the government is frustrating deliberately. He further alleged that he faces frustration daily, citing an incident at an airport where his car was locked while other vehicles were left untouched, and noting that some people now avoid publicly associating with him for fear of being targeted. His remarks ignited a fresh debate over the state of political freedom and the safety of opposition figures in Nigeria, prompting Atiku to intervene with a forceful warning.
In his statement, Atiku declared that the safety of every opposition leader is a constitutional obligation of the Nigerian state and a test of its democratic credentials. He stressed that democracy can only thrive where opposition figures are free to exercise their constitutional rights without fear or intimidation. He warned that nothing must happen to Peter Obi, and that an injury to one is an injury to all, adding that when one opposition leader is intimidated, every opposition voice is diminished, and when one citizen begins to fear because of his political beliefs, democracy itself becomes the casualty. The former Vice President warned that history would not judge governments by how fiercely they fought their critics, but by whether they protected their citizens, upheld justice, rescued the vulnerable, and preserved the democracy entrusted to their care.
Atiku expressed deep concern over what he described as the Presidency's decision to respond to Obi's public comments with personal insults and derogatory language rather than the restraint expected of a democratic government. He warned that reducing political engagement to name-calling demeans the Office of the President and risks inflaming an already tense political atmosphere. He insisted that democratic leadership demands composure, not contempt, and that when a citizen, particularly an opposition figure, voices concerns about the state of the nation or his personal safety, the first duty of government is to reassure through statesmanship, facts and responsible conduct, not through insults. He maintained that democracies are strengthened by reasoned engagement, not by invective, and that a government which answers every criticism with abuse projects insecurity, not confidence.
Atiku further insisted that no government should mistake criticism for sabotage or political competition for warfare, declaring that the opposition is not the enemy of Nigeria, but that poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption, kidnapping, and the daily bloodletting across communities are the real enemies. He argued that a government which devotes more energy to attacking its critics than confronting these existential challenges has confused political survival with the purpose of governance.
The ADC presidential candidate also renewed his call for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently being detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over various allegations. He argued that justice must be guided by fairness and constitutional principles rather than political considerations, stressing that the continued detention of El-Rufai has generated widespread public concern. He insisted that every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to due process, equal protection under the law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court, and that justice must never create the appearance of selective application. He urged the government to address public concerns through transparency and accountability rather than political distractions.
Atiku lamented the country's worsening economic and security situation, noting that while Nigerians grapple with unprecedented hardship, families across the country continue to wait anxiously for the return of loved ones abducted by criminal gangs. He noted that there are schoolchildren and teachers still waiting to be reunited with their families and countless innocent Nigerians languishing in the camps of kidnappers, and he stressed that these are the emergencies that deserve the full machinery of government, not endless political sparring with opposition figures.
The statement comes at a time of heightened political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures increasingly vocal about what they describe as a shrinking democratic space and escalating intimidation by state actors. Atiku's warning serves as a reminder that the safety of political opponents is not just a matter of legal obligation but a fundamental test of Nigeria's democratic maturity. As the country inches closer to another electoral cycle, the question of whether the government will heed Atiku's call for restraint and due process remains to be seen.
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