Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku made the allegation after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party was reportedly prevented from holding its special convention in the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.
In a statement released by his media office, Atiku described the development as a violation of the party’s constitutional rights and evidence of growing intolerance toward opposition politics. He specifically criticized Nyesom Wike, alleging that the denial of access to the venue amounted to an abuse of power and an infringement on the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
The former presidential candidate argued that public and private facilities in Abuja should be accessible to all political groups regardless of affiliation. According to him, preventing opposition parties from using such venues creates an unfair political environment.
Atiku further claimed that the Tinubu administration has developed a pattern of using state institutions to frustrate opposition parties. He cited what he described as similar challenges faced by the African Democratic Congress during its national convention earlier this year.
He accused the Federal Government of weaponising public institutions against political rivals and warned that such actions could undermine democracy, the rule of law, and the credibility of future elections.
Describing the situation as a threat to political pluralism, Atiku alleged that the government was seeking to create an uneven playing field that favours the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former vice president called on Wike to ensure opposition parties have unrestricted access to facilities needed for legitimate political activities. He also urged civil society organisations and democratic stakeholders to resist what he termed a gradual slide toward authoritarianism.
Neither the Presidency nor the FCT Administration had officially responded to Atiku’s allegations at the time of the report.
