Former Vice President and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly condemned the violent attack on prominent opposition figures in Benin, Edo State, including Peter Obi, Chief John Oyegun, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, Olumide Akpata, and other leaders of the Coalition ADC.
In a statement released on Saturday, Atiku described the incident as “utterly condemnable and unacceptable in any democracy,” noting that recent inflammatory rhetoric from elements within the ruling APC in Edo State had dangerously legitimised violence against political opponents.
“Atiku stressed that words, when weaponised, often precede actions. What happened in Benin did not occur in a vacuum,” the statement added.
He warned that Nigeria is entering a perilous phase where opposition voices are increasingly harassed through state institutions and now face physical aggression. According to him, the ruling party has escalated its intolerance from bureaucratic suppression to open confrontation.
Atiku called on Inspector General of Police, Tinubu, and other security chiefs to uphold their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property without discrimination or partisanship. He emphasized that “the safety of opposition leaders and supporters is not a favour; it is a democratic obligation.”
The former vice president concluded by warning that Nigeria must not descend into a theatre where politics is settled by violence, urging all stakeholders to uphold democratic norms and peaceful coexistence.
