Atiku, El-Rufai Accuse Tinubu of Dictatorial Tendencies

By Franklin Adole

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing it as the greatest threat to Nigeria’s democracy since 1999. Atiku made the statement in a post on his verified X handle following a solidarity visit to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who was recently attacked at the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna.

According to Atiku, the Tinubu-led APC government has “turned into a full-blown dictatorship,” adding that recent developments point to a shrinking democratic space. He argued that the opposition must remain vigilant to safeguard the country’s democracy from being eroded.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai warned that Nigeria risks sliding into authoritarianism if Tinubu is not voted out in 2027. He alleged that the administration is centralising power, suppressing dissent, and entrenching itself in ways that could extend its hold on power beyond constitutional limits.

Comparing the situation to Cameroon under Paul Biya, El-Rufai said: “If we don’t unite to end this Tinubu administration in 2027, he will try to be president for life. All the signs are there.” He condemned the attack on the ADC event in Kaduna, which he blamed on APC-backed thugs, and described the Tinubu government as worse than past military regimes.

Both Atiku and El-Rufai stressed the need for opposition leaders to rally together to protect Nigeria’s democracy, warning that failure to act decisively could allow authoritarian practices to take firm root.