An ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Publicity have engaged in a public dispute over allegations of political violence and intimidation targeting opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections. The disagreement unfolded during an interview on Trust TV News, where Fabiyi Oladimeji, an Atiku ally, and Bala Ibrahim, the APC spokesman, presented conflicting accounts regarding the treatment of political opponents in Nigeria.
Ibrahim firmly rejected claims that the ruling party is sponsoring thugs to attack opposition politicians, describing such allegations as an attempt to misrepresent the situation. While acknowledging that opposition politicians have expressed feeling threatened and insecure, Ibrahim insisted that intimidating political rivals is contrary to the APC’s principles and democratic governance. He argued that a strong opposition is essential for a healthy democracy and challenged those making the accusations to provide tangible evidence that could lead to the identification and prosecution of the individuals responsible.
“As a democrat, I feel ashamed that the opposition is feeling annihilated... I feel ashamed that the opposition is increasingly feeling insecure whenever it wants to merchandise its product,” Ibrahim said, adding that no responsible government would deliberately create an atmosphere where political opponents feel unwelcome.
In contrast, Fabiyi Oladimeji accused the APC and the Kebbi State Government of using violence to intimidate political opponents. Citing a personal experience from two days prior to the interview, Oladimeji described an attack on his convoy in Kebbi State while traveling from the airport to the town. He alleged that individuals carrying President Bola Tinubu’s campaign posters and machetes smashed buses and damaged vehicles belonging to his team without provocation.
Oladimeji stated that he instructed his team not to retaliate to avoid a confrontation that could have had more serious consequences, allowing them to maneuver and leave the area safely. He cited reported attacks involving former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in Calabar and Delta State as further evidence of the security challenges facing opposition politicians. Responding to Ibrahim’s demand for evidence, Oladimeji argued that his recent victimization in Kebbi should be sufficient proof of the reality of these attacks.
The Atiku ally further accused the Kebbi State Government of sponsoring the incident, challenging authorities to publicly deny the allegation. He characterized the APC as becoming desperate ahead of the 2027 elections, alleging that intimidation is being used against political opponents. Despite these claims, Oladimeji warned that such tactics would not deter Nigerians from participating in the electoral process, insisting that voters would continue to defend their choices at the polls.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
