Atiku Warns Tinubu: Protect Peter Obi or Risk Nigeria’s Democracy

Atiku Warns Tinubu to ensure that nothing happens to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, saying the Nigerian government has a constitutional duty to protect every opposition leader. The former Vice President issued the warning amid growing concerns over Obi’s recent claim that his life is under threat ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku made the remarks on Thursday through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu. His statement followed public reactions to Peter Obi’s disclosure that he had received threats, a development that has sparked widespread concern among Nigerians.

According to Atiku, safeguarding political opponents is not optional. Instead, he argued, it is a measure of Nigeria’s democratic strength. He warned that any attack on an opposition figure would weaken democracy and undermine citizens’ confidence in the country’s political system.

“Nothing must happen to Peter Obi. An injury to one is an injury to all,” Atiku said. He added that when opposition leaders are intimidated or citizens fear expressing their political views, democracy becomes the ultimate victim.

Furthermore, Atiku Warns Tinubu that the Presidency should respond to concerns with responsibility rather than hostility. He said democratic leadership requires calm, facts and statesmanship instead of insults directed at critics.

He also argued that Nigeria’s biggest enemies are poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption and kidnapping—not political opposition. According to him, a government that spends more time attacking critics than addressing these national challenges risks losing sight of its primary responsibility to citizens.

The statement comes as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with calls from different stakeholders urging political actors to uphold democratic values, protect freedom of expression and guarantee the safety of all participants in the political process.