ABUJA, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of consolidating power at the expense of Nigeria’s democracy, describing their actions as a “mirror of desperation.”
In a statement issued Wednesday by his media office, Atiku condemned the APC’s alleged efforts to weaken opposition parties and undermine democratic institutions, warning that Nigeria was veering toward authoritarianism.
“The APC has abandoned democratic principles and is instead focused on monopolizing power,” Atiku said. “Rather than engage in substantive dialogue, they resort to personal attacks and suppression of opposition voices.”
Atiku’s remarks followed a two-day national conference organized by the Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, where civil society organizations convened to discuss the sustainability of Nigeria’s democracy. During the event, Atiku criticized the ruling party’s growing influence over political institutions, alleging that Tinubu was working to erode pluralism and silence dissent.
“If there is any political figure in Nigeria who truly embodies desperation, it is President Tinubu himself,” Atiku stated. “He continues to blur the line between state power and personal ambition, using calculated strategies to cripple any form of opposition.”
Atiku also reiterated his past warnings about alleged attempts by the Tinubu administration to appoint APC loyalists to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raising concerns over the integrity of future elections.
“The country is now witnessing the unfolding of Tinubu’s plan to populate INEC with members of his own party,” he said.
“This is a direct threat to free and fair elections.”
Beyond electoral concerns, Atiku accused Tinubu of using state power for personal gain, including the alleged awarding of government contracts to companies linked to his family. He also criticized the administration for suppressing dissent, citing cases where protesters have been charged with treason.
“It is an irony most bitter that a man who once rose to prominence on the back of civil activism is now working against the very ideals that brought him to power,” Atiku said.
The statement concluded with a call for the ruling party to reflect on its actions.
“The APC must stand before the mirror and behold the true face of desperation — a reflection of its own ambitions,” Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, said in the release.
