Atiku accuses Tinubu of undermining democratic institutions after PDP was denied access to a venue in Abuja ahead of 2027 elections.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of undermining democratic institutions and attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
Also read: Atiku wins ADC primary in landslide victory 2027 race
Atiku Abubakar made the allegation while reacting to the decision of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to deny the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) access to a public event centre in Abuja for the affirmation of its presidential candidate.
In a statement issued by the Atiku Media Office on Saturday, the former vice president described the action as an abuse of power and part of a broader effort to suppress political opposition.
According to him, the incident reflects what he characterised as a growing pattern of intolerance towards opposition parties under the Tinubu administration.
“The action of Minister Wike to deny the PDP the opportunity from holding an event in line with its constitutional right represents a blatant abuse of the party’s rights and an unacceptable infringement on the freedom of association and peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement said.
The controversy comes amid increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties expressing concerns about what they describe as restrictions on political participation and access to public facilities.
Atiku Abubakar argued that both public and private facilities in the Federal Capital Territory should remain accessible to all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation.
He accused the FCT Administration of acting in a partisan manner and alleged that public institutions were being used to disadvantage opposition groups.
“Private and public facilities in the Federal Capital Territory or indeed anywhere in the country exist to serve all Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliation,” he said.
The former vice president further claimed that similar incidents had affected other opposition parties, including the ADC.
“We have seen a pattern of political interference through public institutions aimed at weakening opposition parties under the current administration,” the statement added.
Atiku Abubakar also alleged inconsistency in the application of government authority, claiming that another faction of the ADC had recently organised a public event in Abuja without facing similar restrictions.
According to him, such actions risk creating an uneven political environment ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The ADC presidential candidate said the development raises concerns about political pluralism and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
“This high-handed action is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s emerging pattern of deploying state institutions and resources to frustrate political opposition and weaken the democratic process in the build-up to the 2027 presidential election,” the statement said.
Atiku Abubakar maintained that Nigerians remain committed to democratic governance, accountability and constitutional rule despite what he described as attempts to suppress dissenting voices.
He called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to reverse the decision and ensure equal access to facilities for all political parties conducting lawful activities.
The former vice president also urged civil society organisations, democratic stakeholders and citizens to resist what he termed creeping authoritarian tendencies.
“We call on the Minister of the FCT to immediately stop this unconstitutional action and grant all opposition parties unfettered access to public and private facilities for their legitimate political activities,” he stated.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the Federal Capital Territory Administration had issued an official response to the allegations.
Also read: Atiku Abubakar scores dominant ADC primary victory
The dispute adds another layer of political tension as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with questions surrounding political freedoms, institutional neutrality and electoral fairness increasingly dominating public discourse.
