Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the recent violence in Osun State, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using force to maintain political control.
Atiku’s statement follows reports of violent clashes in Osun, including the alleged killing of the reinstated Irewole Local Government Chairman, Remi Abass, and five others by unidentified gunmen on Monday.
According to eyewitness reports, the attack occurred when Abass arrived at the local government secretariat with his supporters. Armed men suspected to be political thugs opened fire, leading to multiple casualties.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), reportedly arrested several individuals suspected of attempting to cause further unrest in the state.
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had earlier raised concerns about an alleged plan by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, to incite violence. Adeleke accused Oyetola of issuing illegal orders to security agencies to reinstate previously sacked local government chairmen.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Atiku accused the APC of deploying armed thugs to seize control of local government secretariats in Osun, describing it as a direct attack on democracy.
“Nigerians bore witness to a chilling display of lawlessness yesterday, as the Tinubu-led APC exposed the depths of its desperation to retain power at all costs — through sheer political brigandage and the subversion of democracy,” Atiku stated.
He further alleged that the APC, under President Bola Tinubu, orchestrated a coordinated assault on the electoral process.
“In Osun State, the APC orchestrated a full-scale assault on democracy, attempting to hijack local government administration through brute force,” he said. “Armed thugs, operating under the party’s protection, stormed all 30 local government area council secretariats. Yet, the APC leadership and the presidency remained silent.”
Atiku praised Osun residents for resisting the alleged intimidation, saying, “Had it not been for the fearless resistance of the Osun people, democracy in the state would have been trampled under the boots of political marauders.”
Atiku called on security agencies to uphold their constitutional duties professionally and resist being used as political enforcers.
“We demand that security agencies maintain neutrality and refuse to be used as instruments of oppression by the APC,” he said. “The world is watching.”
The former vice president warned that the APC’s actions in Osun reflected a broader pattern of democratic subversion nationwide.
“The APC has abandoned any pretense of democratic legitimacy, resorting instead to brute force in its bid to cling to power,” he stated.
Atiku urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against any attempt to undermine democracy.
“President Bola Tinubu and his dwindling band of enablers must cease their reckless acts of political sabotage—not just in Osun or Lagos, but across Nigeria,” he declared. “The people demand governance, not chaos. Nigerians will not sit idly while their democracy is hijacked by a power-drunk regime intent on setting the country on fire.”
The statement reinforces concerns about the growing political tension in Nigeria, with opposition leaders warning against further attempts to undermine democratic institutions.
With security forces making arrests and opposition leaders speaking out, the situation in Osun remains volatile. Political observers believe the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the crisis escalates or is resolved through legal and political means.
As the nation watches, many await the federal government’s response to these allegations and whether security agencies will take decisive action to ensure stability.
For updates on this developing story, stay connected.
