Demola Olarewaju, Senior Political Assistant to Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has claimed that Bola Tinubu is utilizing All Progressives Congress governors to harass and suppress political opponents as the 2027 general elections approach.
What are the main allegations raised by the opposition aide?
Olarewaju asserted that instead of relying on tangible infrastructural achievements and impactful governance to win public support, the current administration has resorted to coercion and hardship. According to his statements shared on social media, the ruling party is actively blocking political rallies in northern regions and attempting to restrict social media access in select states.
"The best campaign for Bola Tinubu would have been legacy projects and actual impact upon the lives of Nigerians but he instead chose misgovernance and hardship," Olarewaju stated on X.
He further claimed that a deliberate pattern of state-backed intimidation is unfolding across various regions, affecting opposition figures from Edo State to Kaduna State, Rivers State, and Sokoto State, alongside incidents involving Omoyele Sowore in Ekiti State.
Why is the opposition warning against state-sponsored coercion?
The political aide cautioned that these aggressive tactics could lead to severe civil unrest if unchecked. He referenced previous historical warnings regarding political volatility in the western region, urging the federal administration to reevaluate its approach to opposition politics.
"The Tinubu regime should remember Gov. Makinde’s warning on the Wild Wild West and turn back from this path of government intimidation, before it escalates," Olarewaju warned.
Despite the alleged obstacles, the camp maintains that public backing for their economic relief agenda remains strong. Supporters insist that administrative pressure will fail to derail their political momentum leading up to the polls.