As the 2027 general elections draw nearer, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have expressed concern over what they described as an increasing clampdown on dissent, warning that it could undermine the credibility of the polls.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Atiku cautioned that Nigeria risked heading into the next election cycle in an atmosphere of fear and repression, insisting that no election could be free, fair or credible under such conditions.
The former Vice President spoke against the backdrop of the reported arrest of Abubakar Salim Musa, a young Nigerian whose detention was disclosed by Amnesty International Nigeria.
Atiku accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of resorting to intimidation and arrests to silence critics, rather than addressing the country’s mounting governance and security challenges.
He said that Musa’s alleged offence was his persistent criticism of the worsening security situation in parts of Northern Nigeria and elsewhere in the country.
Citing Amnesty International, Atiku described the charges against the young man as lacking credibility and reflective of a broader pattern of abusing state institutions to suppress opposing views.
“Rather than address these serious concerns, the government’s response has been to arrest him and subject him to what Amnesty describes as bogus charges and a sham trial,” he said.
Atiku also expressed concern over what he termed a growing trend in which journalists, schoolchildren, entertainers, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and ordinary citizens were allegedly being arrested, assaulted or intimidated by security agencies for criticising the President or members of his family.
According to him, such actions undermine the foundations of democracy, which are anchored on the protection of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression.
He warned that neither voters nor opposition parties could operate effectively in an environment of fear, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Musa and others allegedly detained for exercising their constitutional rights.
The former Vice President further urged the international community and human rights organisations to hold the Federal Government accountable.
Meanwhile, the PDP, in a separate statement, echoed Atiku’s concerns, warning that Nigeria’s democratic space was shrinking rapidly.
The party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of systematically suppressing dissent in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also aligned itself with the position of Atiku and the PDP, cautioning that sustained repression of opposition voices could erode public trust in the electoral process.