Atiku Tells Tinubu to Emulate Buhari, Jonathan

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to follow the example of former leaders Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan, who he said did not attempt to deregister opposition parties during their time in office.

In a statement on Saturday, Atiku reacted to reports of a legal move to deregister the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing it as part of efforts to weaken opposition parties prior to the start of the 2027 elections.

“If you’re truly popular and your policies have positively bettered the lives of the citizens, you shouldn’t be afraid of a free and fair competition,” Atiku said.

Tinubu Says He Will Not Be Scared Out of Office — President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. Credit: Naija News.

He noted that Buhari, a former military head of state, did not deregister any opposition party while in office.

Atiku also cited Jonathan, who conceded defeat in the 2015 presidential election, marking the first time an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria.

The former vice president also warned that moves to restrict political competition could undermine democracy and erode public confidence in the electoral process.

He further appealed to the judiciary to maintain its independence and resist partisan pressures.

Author

Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.