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An ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Fabiyi Oladimeji, and the Director of Publicity of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bala Ibrahim, have disagreed over allegations of attacks and intimidation against opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While Ibrahim dismissed claims that the ruling party was sponsoring attacks on opposition politicians, Fabiyi accused the APC and the Kebbi State Government of using violence to intimidate political opponents.
The two men expressed their positions during an interview on Trust TV News, where they discussed concerns over political violence and the treatment of opposition parties in the country.
Speaking during the programme, Ibrahim said he was concerned that opposition politicians were increasingly feeling threatened and uncomfortable carrying out their political activities.
He, however, insisted that intimidating opposition parties was not part of the APC’s principles or policy.
“As a democrat, I feel ashamed that the opposition is feeling annihilated. I feel ashamed that the opposition is feeling harassed. I feel ashamed that the opposition is increasingly feeling insecure whenever it wants to merchandise its product,” he said.
Ibrahim argued that a strong opposition was necessary for a healthy democracy, adding that no responsible government would deliberately create an atmosphere where political opponents felt threatened or unwelcome.
He said the APC did not support such practices, insisting that the party’s principles were consistent with democratic governance.
“But, like I said, the ambition of democracy is to have opposition. That is the only way you can have healthy democracy, and no responsible government will want to have an atmosphere where people are feeling uncomfortable, people are feeling threatened or the opposition is feeling completely unbelonging,” Ibrahim said.
He also rejected allegations that the APC was sponsoring thugs to attack opposition politicians, describing such claims as an attempt to misrepresent the situation.
According to him, those making the allegations should provide evidence that could lead to the identification and prosecution of those responsible.
“As I speak to you today, the people that are saying the APC is the one that is sponsoring this thuggery, attack and what have you on the opposition, they are being economic with the truth, and I challenge them,” he added.
Ibrahim further questioned why opposition politicians had not presented evidence against those they accused of sponsoring the attacks.
“I always tell them, look, if you feel the opposition is the one that is sending thugs to attack you, what stops you from getting evidence, what stops you from holding those thugs, what stops you from providing tangible evidence of the people that sent them and see if they are not prosecuted,” he said.
He maintained that political violence amounted to a breakdown of law and order, which could undermine governance.
“There is no government, any government that is responsible, that will want a situation where law and order will be disrespected. That is anarchy, and if there is anarchy, you can’t govern,” Ibrahim stated.
However, Fabiyi disagreed with the APC spokesman, saying he had personally experienced an attack on his convoy in Kebbi State just days before the interview.
He also cited reported attacks involving former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in Calabar and Delta State as evidence of the security challenges facing opposition politicians.
Responding to Ibrahim’s demand for evidence, Fabiyi said his personal experience in Kebbi should be sufficient to demonstrate the reality of the attacks.
“I was a victim just two days ago in Kebbi, my convoy was attacked, and I’m sorry, I’m surprised that you are here. Peter Obi a few days ago in Calabar was attacked. What other evidence would they want?” he asked.
Describing the incident, Fabiyi said people carrying President Bola Tinubu’s campaign posters and machetes attacked his convoy while he was travelling from the airport to the town.
He alleged that the attackers smashed buses and damaged vehicles belonging to members of his team despite what he described as the absence of provocation.
“We saw them on the road carrying President Tinubu’s posters and machetes and everything. And we went and we walked, we were trying to drive through without even, no provocation, nothing. They started hitting, they destroy new buses, they destroy everything,” he said.
Fabiyi explained that he instructed members of his team not to retaliate because they were in Kebbi for a political campaign and rally.
He said the decision helped them avoid a confrontation that could have resulted in more serious consequences.
“If we had gone the same way they went, the story would have been different today because I told all my guys, no, don’t do this. We are not here, we have campaign to run, rally to run in Kebbi City, that’s why we are here. We manoeuvre and we are able to leave,” he said.
The Atiku ally further accused the Kebbi State Government of sponsoring the attack, challenging the authorities to publicly deny the allegation.
He also accused the APC of becoming desperate ahead of the 2027 elections, alleging that intimidation was being used against political opponents.
“APC is getting so desperate because you know that they’ve lost every sense of, they’ve lost it. So the only thing is to intimidate people. We’ll see what will happen during the election,” Fabiyi said.
He warned that attacks and intimidation would not prevent Nigerians from participating in the electoral process, insisting that voters would defend their choices at the polls.
“Nigerians will protect their votes. Nigerians will come out and protect them because they know what is happening in this country now,” he added.
Fabiyi also warned against the use of violence in political competition, maintaining that no political party or group had exclusive control over it.
“Nobody has monopoly of violence,” he said, adding that introducing violence would not help the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
