Atiku urges govt to protect Peter Obi, release El-Rufai

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar issued a strong warning to the Federal Government on Thursday, July 9, 2026, demanding it guarantee the safety of opposition leader Peter Obi and calling for the immediate release of detained former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Atiku framed the protection of opposition figures as a constitutional duty essential for Nigeria's democracy.

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku declared, "Nothing must happen to Peter Obi. An injury to one is an injury to all." He argued that intimidating opposition leaders diminishes all critical voices and that when a citizen fears for their safety due to political beliefs, democracy itself becomes a casualty. His statement follows recent comments by Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, who alleged in an interview that the government was targeting his business interests and expressed concerns about his personal safety ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku also renewed his call for the release of Nasir El-Rufai, who has been detained by the Independent Corrupt...