Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the reported attacks on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, in Ekiti State and supporters of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Sokoto State.

In a statement posted on his official X handle on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Atiku described the incidents as deeply troubling and unacceptable, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of intimidating opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Vice President, who is the presidential candidate of the ADC, said the simultaneous attacks on Sowore and the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Manir Dan’iya, exposed the extent to which the ruling administration was prepared to oppress opposition leaders.

“It is particularly disturbing that while President Bola Tinubu is away on spiritual pilgrimage, political enforcers and thugs loyal to his party are unleashing terror on his political opponents at home,” Atiku said.

Atiku demanded immediate and transparent investigations into both incidents and called on the Federal Government to guarantee a free, fair and competitive contest in the forthcoming elections.

He also alleged that a local security outfit in Sokoto State has been harassing ADC supporters and manhandling citizens for wearing ADC-branded merchandise.

“The continued attacks on opposition figures and the unexplained disappearance of critical social media influencers are clear red flags of a dangerous slide toward a censored state where the opposition is crushed by the brute force of the current government,” he added.

PUNCH reports that Sowore was attacked on Friday at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti after a radio programme, while police said he sustained minor injuries and was treated at the Police Hospital. The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti, Michael Falade, has ordered an investigation, and police said 11 suspects were arrested at their hideout in Atikankan area.

In Sokoto, Dan’iya alleged that a procession of about 5,000 women and youths of the ADC women’s wing was disrupted by suspected APC supporters on Wednesday, leaving several women injured and vehicles damaged. The Sokoto State Police Command said it deployed officers to the scene and is investigating the incident. An APC chieftain in the state denied the allegation.

Atiku vowed that the opposition would resist every attempt to cancel political opposition in Nigeria.

Source: The Punch Newspapers / Verified with New Telegraph, The Whistler.