Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again taken a strong stance against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of undermining democracy and orchestrating political chaos in Lagos and Osun states. In a statement released via his official X handle on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Atiku condemned what he described as an attempt by the APC to seize control of democratic institutions through intimidation and brute force.
His reaction follows the deployment of security operatives to the Lagos State House of Assembly amid a leadership crisis, as well as alleged violent attempts by APC-backed forces to take over local government councils in Osun State.
Atiku alleged that the Tinubu-led government had abandoned governance and was now using thuggery and force to maintain its grip on power. He claimed that while chaos unfolded, the presidency and APC leadership remained silent, refusing to condemn the actions of their supporters.
“In Osun State, the APC orchestrated a full-scale assault on the democratic process, attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force. Armed thugs and mercenaries, operating under the party’s protection, launched an audacious bid to seize control of all 30 local government area council secretariats. And yet, the so-called national leadership of the APC and the presidency watched in complicit silence,” Atiku stated.
He went on to praise the people of Osun for resisting what he called an attack on democracy, saying their courage stood as a beacon of hope in the face of oppression.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has clarified that security operatives were not sent to interfere with the Assembly’s leadership but were officially invited to prevent an alleged plan to forcibly reinstate impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. In a letter dated February 14, 2025, signed by the Acting Clerk of the House, A. Ottun, and sent to the DSS and other security agencies, the Assembly management requested heightened security due to credible intelligence about a planned forceful takeover on February 18.
“The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on February 18, 2025, as the Speaker, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members,” the letter read.
Despite this explanation, Atiku remains unconvinced, insisting that the Tinubu administration is actively working to undermine democratic institutions. He warned that the APC had abandoned all pretenses of democratic legitimacy and was now resorting to coercion, intimidation, and outright political sabotage.
“Tinubu’s APC has left no doubt—it will stop at nothing to subvert democracy and impose itself against the will of the people. But Nigerians must resist. The time-honored warning remains true: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” Atiku declared.
He called on security agencies to maintain professionalism and resist being used as tools for what he described as APC’s criminal agenda.
As tensions rise, the developments in Lagos and Osun signal a deepening political crisis, raising concerns about the state of democracy and governance in Nigeria.
