Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern that Nigeria’s 2027 general election is at risk of being undermined by a climate of repression, citing the arrest of Abubakar Salim Musa, a young Nigerian critic of the government’s handling of security issues.
Atiku in a statement, accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of using intimidation and arrests to silence critics rather than addressing governance failures.
Atiku described Musa’s detention as part of a broader pattern of repression, noting that numerous Nigerians, including journalists, students, and entertainers, have faced arrest and intimidation for criticizing the government.
He urged Tinubu’s administration to release Musa and others detained for exercising their constitutional rights, and called on the international community to hold the government accountable for human rights violations.
Atiku emphasized that Nigeria’s democratic foundations are being eroded by the continued repression of critics, and warned that the country cannot claim to be part of the free world while citizens are being arrested and intimidated for voicing criticism.
