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Atiku Accuses Tinubu, APC of Stifling Democracy, Warns of Growing Authoritarianism

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Atiku Accuses Tinubu, APC of Stifling Democracy, Warns of Growing Authoritarianism

By Matthew Eloyi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of systematically eroding Nigeria’s democratic values, warning that their actions pose a direct threat to the country’s political pluralism.

Speaking at a two-day national conference organized by the Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development, Atiku expressed deep concerns over what he described as the APC’s increasing monopoly on power. He alleged that the party is deliberately undermining the opposition, compromising democratic institutions, and consolidating control over the nation’s political landscape.

Rather than addressing these concerns through meaningful dialogue, a statement issued by Atiku Media Office, said the Tinubu-led administration has resorted to personal attacks against him, a move he interprets as a sign of desperation and paranoia.

“If there is any political figure in Nigeria who truly embodies the essence of desperation, it is none other than President Tinubu himself,” the statement stated.

“Through his unchecked actions, he continues to blur the line between state power and personal ambition, magnifying his control over both the nation and its institutions.”

The statement accused Tinubu of orchestrating the infiltration of opposition parties with loyalists, ensuring that no political faction can operate independently. It also reiterated Atiku’s earlier warnings about the alleged politicization of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming that the president is installing APC loyalists within the electoral body to tilt future elections in his favor.

Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of fostering corruption by awarding government contracts to companies linked to the president’s family. He also criticized the government’s handling of civil protests, citing cases where demonstrators have been charged with treason, a tactic he compared to authoritarian regimes of the past.

The former vice president lamented what he described as Tinubu’s transformation from a pro-democracy activist to a suppressor of multi-party democracy. “It is an irony most bitter that a man who once rose to prominence on the back of civil activism now stands in opposition to the very ideals that shaped his political career,” he remarked.

The statement concluded by challenging the ruling party to reflect on its actions, warning that Nigeria’s democracy faces an existential threat if the current trajectory continues.

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