By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and security agencies of complicity in a rising wave of political violence and voter intimidation across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said every Nigerian has a constitutional right to support any party of choice, and every registered party has a right to organize and campaign without fear.

“The Nigerian police is not APC police; it is the police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

*Pattern of Attacks Documented*

Abdullahi said the ADC has documented incidents between July 2025 and September 2026 across Kaduna, Kebbi, Ekiti, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Osun, Kogi and Enugu states.

He recalled the attack on the ADC Secretariat in Benin in February during a political gathering, and gunshots at the residence of former Governor John Odigie-Oyegun where political leaders had gathered. He said the Edo Police Command confirmed the attack and promised investigation, but since February there has been “no arrest, no prosecution, and no report.”

According to him, the violence has intensified in recent days:

– In Rivers State, three days ago in Community Ward One, Odual LGA, home of the ADC vice presidential candidate, an attack on members preparing for a meeting led to the killing of a member identified as Kamadiyoi.
– In Enugu, armed men disrupted an opposition gathering with injuries recorded.
– In Kogi State, about five days ago, thugs suspected to be acting for the APC attacked ADC members in two wards, leaving several hospitalized.

*Inciting Rhetoric*

Abdullahi also pointed to what he called inciting rhetoric from APC members, saying it started with President Bola Tinubu’s statement that “all is fair in politics,” which he said has provided a “philosophical background” for thugs to act.

He listed:
– A commissioner, Kosain Abuba, who allegedly threatened amputation of arms against those who refuse to vote APC.
– The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Danjuma Shekulo, who allegedly told residents to vacate the council if they will not vote APC.
– Senator Fadehusin Francis in Osun, who allegedly called on supporters to “look out for members of opposition and kill them,” and later claimed it was metaphorical.
– An APC woman leader who allegedly said women whose husbands do not support APC should divorce them.

“What we are saying is that a record of repeated violence against lawful political activity demands serious government response, which we are not seeing. So it’s either government is sanctioning what is happening, or they are saying that they are powerless and incompetent to stop it,” Abdullahi said.

*ADC’s Demands and Next Steps*

The party demanded that the Inspector General of Police provide a public account of all investigations into political violence. It said it maintains a central record with dates, locations, witness accounts, photos, videos, medical reports and police complaints.

Abdullahi said the party will preserve evidence and engage the National Human Rights Commission, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, the African Union and international human rights bodies, while protecting witnesses.

He also warned international observers, including ECOWAS, that assessment of 2027 should not be limited to election day.

“Look around Abuja; the only posters and billboard you see is that of the ruling party,” he said, alleging that states now charge up to N200 million for billboards to shut out opposition. “The election is not free and fair if opposition parties cannot campaign freely.”

Addressing President Tinubu directly, Abdullahi asked him to withdraw or clarify his “all is fair in politics” statement:

“You need to come out to say you actually did not incite violence… You have that duty to the Constitution.”
Fielding questions on the allegation that the Federal Government is sponsoring the attacks?
bdullahi said the party is not making a direct accusation of sponsorship in every case, but noted that “where attacks occur around announced meetings, the opening of party offices, movement of certain political leaders… the authorities must examine whether adequate preventive arrangements were made.” He added that the failure to investigate and prosecute gives cause to believe the government is either sanctioning it or is incompetent to stop it.

On What ADC will do if attacks continue? Will you resort to self-defence?*
He stressed that the ADC stands for non-violence and that National Chairman Senator David Mark has directed that no candidate should engage in divisive rhetoric. However, he warned: “We are not crying. We are only serving notice, because when the state refuses to protect citizens, citizens have the right to embark on self-help before the condition degenerates into that… We cannot control how people will respond when they are being attacked.”

Are you saying you may not accept the 2027 election result?*
Abdullahi said the integrity of 2027 is already being undermined by denial of campaign space and intimidation. “We are not going to wait for you to come on election day and tell us that voters arrived on time, materials arrived on time, there were no incidents anywhere, and tell us that the election is free and fair… This will form the basis whether we accept the outcome of the 2027 election.”

On What concrete evidence the party has
He said the party has compiled witness accounts, photographic and video evidence, medical documentations and records of complaints submitted to law enforcement. “We are keeping records. We are documenting every single incident. All those who hide under the authority of the state today… no matter how long it takes, they will face the consequence.”

He added,”We want to know where they have promised us that they are investigating, it’s about time we know the results of those investigations. People have been killed, people have been maimed, properties have been burned and destroyed.”

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) says the continued non-utilisation of the official residence built for Vice President Kashim Shettima, nearly two years after its completion and commissioning, has vindicated the serious reservations it earlier expressed over the project.
HURIWA recalls that it had questioned the wisdom of committing several billions of naira to the construction and completion of a massive residential edifice for the Vice President at a time when millions of Nigerians were battling poverty, unemployment, insecurity and deteriorating living conditions.
The association had particularly expressed concern that the project was being pursued by an administration that had simultaneously imposed difficult economic reforms on Nigerians through the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira, developments that significantly affected the purchasing power of citizens.
HURIWA had described the project as an “intolerable error of judgment”, arguing that the priority of government at a time of widespread hardship should be the welfare of citizens and reduction in the cost of governance.
As Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, stated at the time:
“It is an intolerable error of judgment that the government embarked on such white elephant projects as the completion of a multi-billion naira mansion for the Vice President at a time when millions of Nigerian households are experiencing multidimensional poverty.”
“Why build such a massive mansion for the Vice President when the country is among the poverty capitals of the world? When you reduce the cost of governance, it becomes easier to take care of the citizens.”
HURIWA says the subsequent development surrounding the residence has made those concerns even more compelling.
The project, originally awarded in 2010 at about N7 billion and abandoned for several years, was revived under the Federal Capital Territory Administration and eventually completed at a cost that reportedly rose to about N21 billion, with additional public funding of approximately N22 billion reportedly committed to the project and associated works.
The facility was commissioned in June 2024, with the Federal Government presenting its completion as part of efforts to ensure that inherited projects did not become wasted public investments.
Yet, almost two years after its commissioning, the Vice President has continued to use Akinola Aguda House as his official residence.
For HURIWA, this development raises a fundamental question: what exactly has happened to the enormous public resources committed to a building that was specifically intended to serve as the official residence of the Vice President?
The association says it is particularly troubling that after such massive expenditure, questions are still being raised about the suitability of the facility for occupation.
If the funds committed to the project covered everything necessary to make the building suitable for the Vice President to move in, then the continued non-use of the facility raises legitimate questions about the adequacy of the project execution and the management of the public funds committed to it.
HURIWA believes that the situation should not become an excuse for another round of government expenditure.
The association therefore advocates that no further public funds should be committed to the mansion without a transparent explanation to Nigerians of why the billions already spent have not achieved the intended objective.
If the facility is still considered unsuitable for the Vice President after the enormous expenditure already incurred, HURIWA says that would raise serious questions about the prudence and judgment behind proceeding with the project in the first place.
The association says Nigerians should not be asked to continually pay for decisions that were made without sufficient regard for economic realities and public interest.
HURIWA is equally concerned that the controversy surrounding the residence should not be allowed to degenerate into speculation over unverified claims. What Nigerians need is a transparent account of the project: the original contract sum, variations, additional allocations, total expenditure, scope of work and the reasons the facility has remained unused for its intended purpose.
More importantly, HURIWA believes that the situation now presents an opportunity for government to turn an expensive and underutilised public asset into something that directly benefits ordinary Nigerians.
The association therefore advocates the conversion of the Vice President’s residence into a General Hospital for low-income earners, unemployed Nigerians and other vulnerable residents of Abuja.
HURIWA says such a conversion would provide a constructive public purpose for an edifice on which enormous taxpayers’ resources have already been expended.
At a time when many Nigerians struggle to access affordable and quality healthcare, the association believes that transforming the facility into a public hospital would give citizens a tangible benefit from an expenditure that has already generated widespread concerns over public-sector priorities.
HURIWA stresses that this advocacy is not targeted at the office or person of the Vice President. Rather, it is a call for responsible management of public assets and a reconsideration of how government can derive maximum public value from resources that have already been committed.
The association maintains that public expenditure should ultimately serve the public good.
Where billions of naira have already been spent on an asset that is not serving its original purpose, government should look beyond the original intention and consider how the asset can be repurposed to address the pressing needs of the Nigerian people.
For HURIWA, a General Hospital serving poor and vulnerable Nigerians would be a far more meaningful legacy for the controversial edifice than allowing it to remain an expensive, underutilised monument to questionable public expenditure.

By David Owei

*A seat was reportedly secured for Bola near United States President Donald Trump at the world’s most important annual diplomatic gathering. Yet, for the third consecutive year, Tinubu refused to occupy it.*

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded a full explanation from President Tinubu over his repeated absence from the United Nations General Assembly, asking whether the President’s documented history with United States law-enforcement agencies has become a burden on Nigeria’s foreign relations.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Tinubu stayed away from the 79th UNGA session in 2024, the 80th in 2025 and now the 81st in 2026, repeatedly sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to stand in for him.

He said three consecutive absences could no longer be dismissed as coincidence or routine delegation but constituted a pattern of presidential evasion requiring an honest explanation.

“The United Nations General Assembly is one of the world’s most important diplomatic gatherings. It brings together the representatives of the UN’s 193 member states and provides a unique platform for presidents and prime ministers to defend their countries’ interests, negotiate partnerships and shape global decisions on trade, security and development,” Atiku said.

“Vice President Shettima may represent Nigeria capably, but representation by delegation cannot permanently substitute for the personal authority, visibility and responsibility of the President.

“Tinubu cannot continue to treat Nigeria’s seat at the world’s biggest diplomatic table as though it were an inconvenient appointment that can be endlessly outsourced.

“Presidential absence on the global stage has consequences. UNGA is not merely a ceremonial gathering or an annual photo opportunity. Its sidelines are where leaders hold decisive bilateral meetings, court investors, negotiate trade partnerships, mobilise development finance and make the case for their countries.

“When a President makes himself absent from that stage for three consecutive years, his country loses opportunities. Investment does not follow silence. International capital does not pursue a country whose leader repeatedly abandons the room in which consequential economic relationships are being built.

“The cost is eventually transferred to ordinary citizens: fewer investments mean fewer businesses and fewer jobs. Reduced capital inflows place additional pressure on the local currency. A weaker naira raises the cost of imports, production, transportation and food. These are among the economic pressures now punishing Nigerian families through the worst cost-of-living crisis in living memory.

“Tinubu may consider attending UNGA a matter of personal prerogative, but the economic and diplomatic consequences of his absence are being paid by Nigerians. A President may surrender his seat, but a nation cannot escape the bill.”

Atiku described as extraordinary the reported announcement by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, that he had secured Tinubu a seat “not too far from where the US President, Donald Trump, will be seated.”

“The seat was secured, but the President disappeared,” Atiku said.

“If proximity to President Trump was considered such a diplomatic achievement, why did Tinubu abandon the opportunity and send his deputy? Why celebrate securing a strategic seat for the President when the President had no intention of occupying it?

“That contradiction becomes even more scandalous when Nigerians remember that Tinubu’s administration committed up to $9 million of Nigeria’s scarce foreign exchange to American lobbyists supposedly hired to improve its standing before the government and people of the United States.

“What exactly did Nigerians purchase with that money? Why spend millions of dollars lobbying Washington while Tinubu repeatedly stays away from New York? Why hire lobbyists to speak for Nigeria in America when the Nigerian President cannot summon the courage to appear at the world’s biggest diplomatic gathering on American soil?

“Did the lobbyists fail, or is Tinubu’s American baggage simply too heavy for any public-relations firm to carry?”

Atiku said the President’s persistent avoidance of the United States inevitably invites troubling questions.

*“Is Tinubu afraid that he could become Donald Trump’s next Nicolás Maduro* ?

“Is he haunted by the controversies surrounding his American academic claims and his documented drug-related forfeiture history?

“Is this the kind of President Nigeria deserves — one who projects bravado at home but appears terrified of scrutiny abroad?”

Atiku said these questions were legitimate because of Case No. 93 C 4483 before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in which the United States government instituted forfeiture proceedings concerning funds held in multiple accounts in the name of Bola Tinubu and associated companies.

He noted that the verified complaint was brought under federal laws governing the forfeiture of assets that were connected to narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

“The complaint stated that the funds represented proceeds of narcotics trafficking and money laundering,” Atiku said.

“A supporting sworn affidavit by an Internal Revenue Service criminal-investigation agent similarly stated that funds in accounts controlled by Bola Tinubu were connected to drug-trafficking proceeds. The proceedings eventually resulted in the forfeiture of approximately $460,000 to the United States government.”

“Nigerians are therefore entitled to ask whether Tinubu’s three consecutive UNGA absences have anything to do with this documented American history.

“We are not asserting that Tinubu is legally prohibited from entering the United States. The Presidency has announced no such restriction. But if no legal, diplomatic, medical or personal impediment exists, why has Tinubu repeatedly avoided the UNGA since 2024?

“Is he afraid of renewed scrutiny? Is he uncomfortable appearing on American soil amid continuing public interest in the narcotics drug related forfeiture proceedings? Has one man’s personal history become a burden on Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement?”

Atiku said Tinubu’s conduct presented a glaring contrast between the image he cultivated at home and the timidity he displayed on the international stage.

“So why is Tinubu eternally paranoid about the global podium, especially when that podium stands in the United States?

“Here is a President who professes tigritude at home, draped in an assortment of aliases, including ‘Jagaban,’ the leader of warriors in the Borgu Emirate, and ‘Asiwaju,’ the one who supposedly leads from the front, but who becomes a whimpering, lilly livered and timid chicken on the global stage.

“Nigeria’s foreign standing has never been more miniaturised. Under Tinubu, the country rarely features prominently in continental leadership, the Commonwealth or world affairs.

“His government deployed Nigerian fighter jets and troops to Benin Republic following the December 2025 attempted coup while bandits, terrorists and freelance criminals continued to terrorise Nigerians at home.

“Nigeria could project military power across its border, yet its President could not project Nigeria’s voice from its seat at the United Nations. That contradiction is humiliating.”

Atiku demanded that the Presidency state unequivocally whether Tinubu was free to travel to the United States and disclose the real reason for his third consecutive UNGA absence.

“If there is no impediment, the Presidency must explain this serial absenteeism. If an impediment exists, Nigerians have a right to know,” he said.

“Nigeria is bigger than Bola. Our diplomatic influence, economic interests and international reputation must not be subordinated to Tinubu’s American baggage.

“After committing up to $9 million to American lobbyists, Nigerians deserve more than silence, evasions and another empty presidential seat at the United Nations.

“Is this the kind of President Nigeria deserves?

“Mr Bola, your seat was reportedly secured near President Donald Trump. Why did you refuse to occupy it?

“What exactly are you afraid of in America?”