Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has sounded an alarm. He claims there's a fresh scheme to keep his party off the 2027 ballot.
The former vice-president made the allegations through his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, on Wednesday. Atiku said he'd received credible intelligence about renewed moves to manipulate the electoral process.
"We are fully aware of their plots," Atiku stated in the statement. He added that the ruling party wants to deny Nigerians a genuine choice at the polls.
Atiku believes the APC sees the ADC as the most dangerous threat. He questioned why the ruling party would fear his movement if it truly enjoyed popular support.
"You may conspire, but you will not succeed," he told the APC directly. His message was clear: stop trying to rig the game.
He said recent developments make dismissing such warnings impossible. Pattern recognition, according to him, shows the telltale signs of orchestrated opposition harassment.
First comes institutional capture, Atiku explained. Then frivolous lawsuits suddenly gain traction in courts.
Administrative power gets used selectively next. Political pressure mounts in secret meetings.
Democracy itself becomes the casualty, he warned darkly. Nigerians have watched this unfold over recent months, Atiku noted.
Leadership crises get manufactured artificially. Judicial ambushes occur with suspicious timing.
The authorities harass the opposition relentlessly. Efforts to delegitimise the ADC continue unabated.
Meanwhile, governance has taken a backseat entirely. Atiku found this troubling and backward-looking.
Nigerians struggle with hunger and inflation daily. Unemployment remains stubbornly high nationwide.
Insecurity plagues communities across the federation. Yet officials worry only about political survival.
"At a time when Nigerians are battling these crises, those in power chase political enemies," Atiku observed bitterly. He finds their priorities completely misaligned with national needs.
Popularity should not trigger intimidation campaigns. State institutions shouldn't be weaponised against rivals, he insisted.
Superior ideas win elections, not suppression. Democracies are decided at the ballot box, not backrooms.
Court manipulation betrays the constitutional order. Abusing state machinery corrodes trust permanently.
Any attempt to bar the ADC represents democracy's gravest assault since 1999. Atiku laid down this marker firmly.
No government holds power to dictate voter choices. Sovereignty rests with Nigerians, not temporary office holders.
The ballot itself is sacred ground. Tampering with it amounts to constitutional treason.
