June 12: Nigeria’s Democracy Witnessing Sustained Attacks Under Tinubu

Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the nation’s democracy has suffered severe attacks under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the situation has prevented nigerians from enjoying the democracy they fought for.

Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African democratic Congress, ADC made the remark in a statement, personally signed by him to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day in the country.

The ADC presidential candidate called on Nigerians to stand up and defend the nation’s civilian rule, saying the politic of intimidation and bad governance by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC should be rejected.

The former vice president’s admonition comes as President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed in his Democracy Day speech that the country is witnessing steady progress under his watch, he urged Nigerians to defend Democracy, which he said  may not be totally “perfect” as a means of governance.

Abubakar, however, accused the administration of deliberate use of state power to suppress the opposition in the country, through manufactured leadership crises, orchestrated defections, political intimidation, instead of concentrating on good governance for Nigerians.

According to him, “Financial crimes agencies, the police, the National Assembly, and even segments of the judiciary have been deployed to harass, intimidate, and coerce opposition voices into submission or defection.

“The Electoral Act 2026 has further entrenched provisions that disproportionately favour the ruling party, while freedom of speech, freedom of association, and media independence have come under relentless assault.” Atiku said.

The ADC presidential hopeful said democracy was not a gift for Nigerians, but what they fought for “through sacrifice, courage, resistance, and blood. He noted that many years after the return to civil rule, Nigerians are now confronted  with the emergence of an authoritarian government under the Tinubu administration which he said seeks to secure validation through intimidation, the same method used under the military rule.

“Politicians, pro-democracy activists, patriotic military officers, labour leaders, civil society organisations, students, journalists, and ordinary Nigerians united to confront military tyranny. Many paid the ultimate price. Chief MKO Abiola and Kudirat Abiola laid down their lives. So did Pa Alfred Rewane, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, scores of journalists, students, activists, and countless unnamed heroes whose sacrifices paved the way for the democratic order we now risk taking for granted,” he said.

“Today, twenty-seven years after the military returned to the barracks, Nigeria finds itself confronted by a different but equally dangerous threat: the emergence of an increasingly authoritarian civilian order. Unlike military dictatorship, which ruled by decrees and brute force, this new authoritarianism seeks legitimacy through institutions it has steadily captured and weakened. Its methods may be more sophisticated, but its objective is the same: the concentration of power, the silencing of dissent, and the subversion of the will of the people.”

He however urged Nigerians to defend democracy which he said has not been fully “won”, citing alleged plan by the incumbent to manipulate the 2027 election to undermine the current democratic process.

“This is why June 12 must remain more than a public holiday. It must remain a living reminder that democracy is never permanently won; it must be continually defended.

“Once again, Nigerians are called upon to stand up in defence of the Republic. The hard-won gains of democratic rule are being steadily eroded, and there is a growing and legitimate concern that the President Tinubu administration is determined either to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 elections or undermine the democratic process itself if it cannot secure victory through the ballot,”Abubakar said.