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The Nigerian government has rejected as false and misleading claims that it plans to unlawfully arrest, detain, or prosecute opposition politicians, describing the allegations as a deliberate act of disinformation designed to mislead the public.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the claims were based on a fabricated document alleging the creation of a fictitious multi-agency task force under a programme purportedly tagged “ADP4VIP” — an acronym said to mean Arrest, Detain, Prosecute for Very Important Persons.
According to the minister, no such programme exists, and the document circulating in public spaces is entirely baseless. He explained that the document falsely alleges a coordinated effort by the state apparatus to target and weaken the opposition, especially the African Democratic Congress, politically ahead of the 2027 elections.
The government described these assertions as reckless and intentionally misleading, adding that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on its core priorities of economic reform, tackling insecurity, expanding trade opportunities, and restoring investor confidence.
The government also cautioned against the spread of misinformation and fake news, warning that as the 2027 general elections approach, politically motivated falsehoods and fabricated narratives are likely to increase. Nigerians were urged to remain vigilant and reject what the government described as politics driven by distortion and division.
As 2025 draws to a close, the minister said the administration will remain focused on governance and delivering tangible results for Nigerians, rather than being distracted by what it described as perpetual politicking.
