Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of engineering a civilian coup by deploying state security agencies to destroy opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. Atiku made this claim after operatives of the Department of State Services allegedly sealed the residences and businesses of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, following his visit to the ex-AGF.
Atiku's accusation comes after he led a delegation to Malami's home upon returning from Umrah in Saudi Arabia at the weekend. The former presidential candidate described the action as lawless, vindictive, and politically motivated. He further stated that the continued detention of former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai confirms the alleged coordinated campaign to break opposition figures or force them back into the APC fold.
Atiku's statement, issued by his media office, highlighted that sealing Malami's properties despite the pending court case against him shows the Tinubu administration has abandoned governance and focused on political intimidation. He warned that Nigeria is witnessing the rapid erosion of democratic norms under Tinubu, with state institutions now reduced to tools of political persecution.
According to Atiku, the Tinubu administration is using state power to silence dissent, deploying security agencies not for national security, but for settling political scores. He warned that this is how democracies die, and that Nigeria is close to becoming a one-party state. Atiku emphasized that opposition is being criminalized and dissent punished, making elections a mere formality.
President Tinubu's actions are a clear indication of his administration's disregard for democratic norms and institutions. The sealing of former Attorney General Abubakar Malami's properties, despite a pending court case, is a blatant display of political intimidation. This move is a direct attack on the rule of law and the principles of democracy. Tinubu's administration is using state power to crush opposition and silence dissent, a clear sign of a government that is terrified of competition. This is a recipe for disaster, and Nigerians must resist this attempt to undermine their democratic rights. The implications of this are far-reaching, and it is essential that the government is held accountable for its actions.
