Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of stifling opposition voices and fostering an authoritarian approach to governance.
Atiku’s statement follows remarks by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who criticized Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election. Morka claimed during an interview that Obi had “crossed the line” in his criticism of the Tinubu administration, adding, “he has it coming to him whatever he gets.”
This comment was made in response to Obi’s New Year address, in which he raised concerns about the state of governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming his life and family had been threatened due to his critical stance.
Atiku described Morka’s comments as a “disturbing emblem” of the administration’s disregard for democratic principles, emphasizing the importance of respecting dissent in a functioning democracy. He further called for the APC to apologize to Obi and the Nigerian public for what he termed as “reckless and derogatory” remarks.
“It is not merely the right, but the solemn duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics and engage in meaningful dialogue. Instead, we are faced with a chilling threat that suggests Obi must ‘be ready for whatever comes his way.’ What exactly does Mr. Morka imply by this?” Atiku questioned in his statement.
Atiku also expressed concern over the prolonged detention of dissenting voices like Mahdi Shehu, calling these developments a worrisome shift toward authoritarianism.
The PDP stalwart urged the ruling APC to promote constructive engagement and uphold democratic norms, warning that silencing opposition figures undermines public accountability and damages Nigeria’s democratic fabric.
The APC is yet to issue a formal response to Atiku’s statement, but the political climate continues to intensify as opposition figures voice concerns over governance and freedom of expression under the current administration.
