Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Desperation to Retain Power in Osun, Lagos

Former VP Atiku Abubakar alleges that President Tinubu is taking extreme measures to maintain political control in Osun and Lagos ahead of future elections.

Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) of being desperate to maintain power.

Atiku stated that the Tinubu-led APC is determined to maintain power by any means necessary, resorting to political thuggery and undermining Nigerian democracy.

He was responding to the crisis in Osun State’s local government, which resulted in one person’s death and involved operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and police invading the Lagos State House of Assembly.

In a signed statement, the former Vice President urged Nigerians to prevent Tinubu and his government from undermining democracy.

Atiku stated that Nigerians observed a shocking display of lawlessness when the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) revealed its extreme desperation to maintain power by resorting to political thuggery and undermining democracy.

In Osun State, the APC launched a comprehensive attack on the democratic process, aiming to take over local government elections through force. Under party protection, armed thugs and mercenaries boldly attempted to seize all 30 local government area council secretariats. Meanwhile, both the national leadership of the APC and the presidency remained silently complicit observers.

If not for the Osun people’s fearless resistance—who stood firm against the APC’s aggressive supporters—democracy in the state might have been crushed by political marauders acting on behalf of their party leaders.

Let it be clear: Osun State will never yield to anti-democratic forces. The people have unequivocally demonstrated that they will not allow their electoral rights to be taken away, regardless of the level of intimidation.

We insist that security agencies assigned to Saturday’s elections perform their constitutional responsibilities with professionalism and resist being manipulated as tools for the APC’s unlawful plans. The world is observing closely.

These are perilous times. The APC has discarded any facade of democratic legitimacy, opting instead for brute force in its attempt to maintain power—despite being overwhelmingly rejected by the people.

We applaud the courageous people of Osun for resisting the oppressive forces that aimed to subdue them. Their determination stands as a symbol of hope against persistent tyranny.

Tinubu’s APC has made it clear that they will do whatever it takes to undermine democracy and assert their control, regardless of the people’s wishes. However, Nigerians must stand firm in opposition. The enduring lesson holds true: maintaining freedom requires constant vigilance.

President Bola A. Tinubu, @officialABAT, and his shrinking group of supporters must stop their irresponsible political actions not only in Osun or Lagos but throughout Nigeria. The citizens are calling for governance instead of disorder. Nigerians will not stand by as their democracy is taken over by a regime obsessed with power that threatens to destabilize the country. Enough is enough. -AA