Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over what he calls a deliberate attempt to suppress opposition voices by the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
In a post shared on his X account, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticized the recent arrest and prosecution of Omoyele Sowore and Professor Usman Yusuf, describing the actions as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
“When I raised alarm that Tinubu and the APC were focused on silencing and dismantling the opposition to pave the way for an unchecked rule, I faced harsh attacks,” Atiku stated. “Now, with the arrest and prosecution of @YeleSowore, and the addition of Professor Usman Yusuf—a strong critic of this administration—it seems they are determined to suppress every opposing voice.”
Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, was invited by the police on January 27, 2025, for questioning at the Force Criminal Investigation Department. Though he was granted administrative bail, he rejected the terms and remained in custody. Subsequently, the police filed a 16-count charge of cybercrime against him.
On Thursday, the court granted Sowore bail set at ₦10 million, requiring one surety with landed property of equal value. The surety must submit the original property documents and a passport photograph to the court registrar. Justice Musa Liman also ordered Sowore to surrender his international passport and gave him 24 hours to meet the bail conditions or remain in police custody.
Similarly, Professor Usman Yusuf, a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and vocal critic of the administration, was arrested on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud.
His arraignment, initially scheduled for Friday, was postponed to Monday for adjustments to the charges, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale. An application for bail submitted by the defense was denied due to the deferred arraignment. Justice Nwecheonwu adjourned the case to February 3, 2025, and ordered Yusuf to remain in EFCC custody until then.
These developments continue to raise concerns about the state of political opposition and freedom of expression in the country.
