Atiku Calls for Action on Democratic Backsliding and Security Crisis

On the anniversary of Nigeria's Democracy Day, former Vice President and opposition figure Atiku Abubakar has issued a stark warning against what he describes as a systematic erosion of democratic freedoms and a worsening security crisis. In a statement released on June 12, Abubakar called on citizens to use the occasion to resist bad governance and democratic backsliding, alleging that the current administration is weakening opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abubakar stated that institutions meant to serve impartially, including financial crimes agencies, the police, and the judiciary, are being deployed to harass and intimidate opposition voices. He further criticized recent electoral legislation, which he said disproportionately favors the ruling party, and cited assaults on freedom of speech, association, and media independence. He framed these actions as a betrayal of the spirit of June 12, the date commemorating the annulled 1993 presidential election widely seen as Nigeria's freest.

The former vice president also highlighted a severe and ongoing security emergency. Earlier in the week, following an attack on a secondary school in Kogi State that left...