A support group of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nigerian Youth for Atiku (NYFA), has said Nigerians will resist all forms of rigging, intimidation, and monetary inducement in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement by its Director of Communications (Nigeria and Diaspora), Mr. Dare Dada, after its first strategic meeting in Lagos, Dada appealed to the APC-led government to focus more on policies that could improve the struggling economy rather than dissipating energy on intimidating or silencing opposition figures through arrests or insults ahead of the 2027 elections.

He described the alleged effort by the ruling party to silence opposition parties as outdated military tactics that would be vehemently resisted.

“After a critical review of recent political activities, it has become imperative to emphasise the need for the President and his handlers to deal with the real issues bedevilling the economy rather than going after individuals who are justly voicing their opinions on matters that are important to our collective destiny.

“The arrest of prominent activist, Omoyele Sowore, on trumped-up charges for asking genuine questions about the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who has passed the constitutionally recognised age, still leaves a very sour taste in our mouths.

“You cannot deliberately extend the tenure of an Inspector General of Police till after the 2027 elections when there are other qualified Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) who could take up the position and expect Nigerians to remain silent,” he said.

He noted that the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) recently accused the police of illegally extorting N21.8 billion from checkpoints in the South East, describing the development as absolutely worrisome. He added that arresting activists with the aim of keeping them detained until after the 2027 elections would not augur well.

According to him, employing military tactics under democracy would undermine the country’s hard-earned democratic gains. He said that if such practices were allowed to continue, history would not judge the ruling APC kindly.

“Even when there are more damning allegations against the APC-led government, they have continued to chase the chickens instead of confronting the deadly lions of corruption lying in courts.

“Worthy of note among such allegations is Atiku’s claim that the Lagos-Calabar coastal road was rushed and did not pass through the normal bidding process. Awarding the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway was rushed; the environmental impact assessment report was not even completed; the right of way for the 700 km stretch of the highway project was not secured; it was converted from a PPP to a government-funded project within a twinkle of an eye,” he said.

He added that it had been further alleged that the N500 million initially approved for the environmental impact assessment by the National Assembly for the project was ignored, while over N1 trillion was released by Tinubu’s administration without recourse to the National Assembly.

The NYFA spokesman said the issues above were serious allegations that should have compelled the President to order a full-scale investigation, but they are being treated “like business as usual.” Yet, the same government is targeting individuals who are voicing dissatisfaction with policies that are harmful to the welfare of citizens.

He said the President was not immune to criticism. “Rather than focus on self-redemption, the focus has shifted not just to clamping down on critics but also to sponsoring divisions within opposition parties, as alleged by Atiku, who claimed that some elements were being paid N50 million within opposition camps to frustrate peace, party loyalty, and cause irreconcilable divisions.

“This allegation has not been disclaimed to date, yet the President expects Nigerians to trust him. Trust is earned, not demanded,” he added.

Dada said the harsh economic conditions allegedly brought about by the hurried removal of fuel subsidies without strategically considering the post-implementation impact and the deliberate devaluation of the Naira had plunged an additional 15 million people into abject poverty.

He said addressing these issues required more attention now than ever before. “This act is eliminating the middle class entirely. Another issue worthy of note is the student loans, which students will be made to repay after graduation despite the bleak prospects of securing employment. We, as Nigerians, have continued to endure, and the government itself cannot deny this.

“We hope that the two years left of this APC-led administration will be used to try to redeem the public image of a party that has been ruling by division, propaganda, and election manipulation.

“It is expected that a democracy of 26 years deserves some level of civility, but it is very obvious this is not being championed under the current administration,” Dada said.

Meanwhile, he recalled that the group’s principal, former Vice President Atiku, had consistently told Nigerians how he would have handled some of the economic issues differently.

He urged Nigerians to give Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a chance in the 2027 general elections.

“Atiku Abubakar has consistently told Nigerians how he would have handled issues bordering on subsidy removal, the floating of the exchange rate, and student grants differently, and it is now left for Nigerians to decide if they wish to continue to let this Tinubu-led government win in 2027.

“However, employing all manners of intimidation synonymous with the military era will not be allowed to surface again under any guise,” he said (Daily Sun)