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“The ruling APC must refrain from any attempts to use our security agencies to harass or illegally detain any member or voice of the political opposition – and this call is not here limited to only members of my political party, but indeed all opposition voices including the many individuals across the internet who speak up only to seek a better country,” Mr Atiku wrote on Monday on his X platform.
The bedrock of any thriving democratic society is its ability to protect and respect contrarian viewpoints. Such viewpoints ensure that governance remains transparent and that power is not concentrated in the hands of a few. Arresting or silencing members of the opposition based on contrived charges is not only an affront to the principles of democracy but also a grave injustice to the very people who rely on the system for representation and justice. The government must avoid the temptation of conceding to the agenda of anti-democratic forces.
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded election, says recent arrests of opposition members by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) raise concerns about possible voice suppression and fabricated accusations against opposition personalities.
He said that he had learnt from his time as Vice President, during which he also served as chair of various committees, that allowing opposing forces the political room to flourish is never a flaw.
Mr Atiku called on the ruling APC, urging the party to forgo all attempts to intimidate or forcibly detain any member or representative of the political opposition.
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