Follow Us on Google
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to suggestion by the Senate to suppress political activities in parts of Northern Nigeria, warning that while insecurity remains a grave national challenge, it must not be used to justify restrictions on democratic participation.
In the wake of renewed deteriorating security situation, particularly in the North-East and parts of the North-West and North-Central, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, last week, urged the Senate to consider measures, including halting political activities in frontline states most hit by insurgency and banditry.
Raising a point of order at plenary, Ningi warned that the worsening violence demands urgent and decisive action beyond routine deliberations.
“Mr President, we cannot continue to think that because we are in Abuja, therefore this thing (insecurity) does not affect us.
“One of the things that we must do, and I want us to take this issue very seriously, is either to suspend all political activities across this country or look at the frontline states of Borno, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi and some parts of Kano. We need to suspend activities in these states until we are sufficiently certain that the insecurity challenges are over.
“This is because we are not dealing with this insecurity issue at all. And I am not blaming anybody. We cannot come here every time to lament.”
But in a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, yesterday, Atiku, an ADC chieftain, said plan to halt political activities in eight states, including Borno, Benue and Plateau over escalating violence was deeply troubling and capable of undermining constitutional rights and deepening fears of disenfranchisement.
“Let it be clearly stated that the right to vote and participate in the electoral process is fundamental and cannot be abridged under any guise.
Other News
“Any attempt—whether deliberate or disguised—to suppress political activities in parts of Northern Nigeria raises legitimate concerns about disenfranchisement.”
Atiku recalled earlier intelligence suggesting possible efforts to weaken electoral participation in key Northern states, warning that recent developments appear to reinforce such concerns.
“This is not merely about campaigns; it is about representation, inclusion, and the integrity of our democratic process. You cannot cure insecurity by silencing the voices of the people. Democracy must not become a casualty of government failure,” he added.
He stressed that citizens in the North, like their counterparts across the country, deserve both security and full democratic participation, insisting that neither should come at the expense of the other.
According to him, it remains the responsibility of the government to guarantee security, just as citizens must be allowed to freely exercise their civic rights without fear or intimidation.
“At a time when citizens are already battling hardship and insecurity, the least the government can do is to guarantee their right to be heard—not to restrict it. Any policy that creates the impression of targeted exclusion will only deepen distrust and national division,” he warned.
Atiku challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and the administration of President Bola Tinubu to clarify their positions and reassure Nigerians that no part of the country would be denied its constitutional rights.
