By Beatrice..
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has vowed to resist what he called ongoing attempts to cancel political opposition in Nigeria, following twin attacks on opposition figures that have raised fresh concerns about political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued Friday, the ADC presidential candidate condemned Thursday’s attacks on AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore and the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, describing them as “deeply troubling and unacceptable.”
Sowore said he and his team were assaulted at a restaurant in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, shortly after he appeared on a local radio programme on Thursday.
He alleged that thugs loyal to the state government attacked him and his aides, leaving him with injuries, and claimed the attackers operated from the Ekiti Government House with backing from Department of State Services operatives.
The Ekiti State Police Command disputed that account. A police spokesperson said the incident was a “scuffle” rather than an attack, that Sowore sustained only minor injuries and had been treated and discharged, and that the AAC candidate had not formally notified the police of his visit to the state. Sowore rejected the police account, accusing the police and DSS of trying to seize CCTV footage from the restaurant.
In Sokoto, Dan’iya said his convoy was allegedly intercepted by armed operatives of the Sokoto Marshal and local vigilante groups at about 9 p.m. on Thursday as he returned from escorting former Governor Aminu Tambuwal to the airport.
According to a statement from his media aide, the operatives opened fire, damaging his bulletproof vehicle and detaining two DSS officials travelling with him. Dan’iya said the security personnel claimed they were acting on “orders from above” to prevent ADC members from entering the state.
The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed it received a report and said an investigation was underway. The state government and the security agencies named had not responded to requests for comment as of Friday evening.
Atiku said the timing of the attacks, while President Bola Tinubu is abroad on a spiritual pilgrimage, was particularly disturbing, warning that “political enforcers and thugs loyal to his party are unleashing terror on his political opponents at home.”
He demanded immediate and transparent investigations into both incidents and alleged that a local security outfit in Sokoto has been harassing citizens for wearing ADC merchandise.
“The continued attacks on opposition figures and the unexplained disappearance of critical social media influencers are clear red flags of a dangerous slide toward a censored state,” Atiku said. “We shall resist every ongoing attempt to cancel political opposition in Nigeria.”
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