Activist alleges plot in offing to arrest, intimidate opposition figures – Atiku, Amaechi, others

Adekunle Adebayo, a public affairs analyst and activist, has raised the alarm that plans were in the offing to arrest two opposition figures and chieftains of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

Adebayo, who made this known in a statement made available to the media, Tuesday, warned that the alleged move formed part of a wider strategy to weaken opposition politics and entrench a de facto one-party system in the country.

He alleged that Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai had been marked for arrest.

Adebayo said other prominent political figures, including Isa Ali Pantami, Rauf Aregbesola, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, and others, were also being targeted.

The activist further claimed that the alleged plan followed earlier arrests and detentions of former Governors of Sokoto and Anambra States, Aminu Tambuwal and Chris Ngige, as well as former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

He warned that if the reported arrests were carried out, they would amount to serious violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), citing threats to personal liberty, freedom of association and expression, equality before the law, and the independence of the judiciary.

Stated Adebayo: “Selective application of law enforcement based on political affiliation is incompatible with constitutional democracy”.

He urged Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely monitor unfolding events, cautioning that the country risked sliding into a system where democratic institutions exist only in form, while political power is consolidated through coercion and selective justice.