The 2027 African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has slammed those demanding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe him over corruption allegations.

Recall that a former National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, had urged the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies to immediately probe and prosecute Atiku over allegations of corruption.

However, reacting in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former vice president described the calls as a mere political witch-hunt.

“When an incumbent government begins to feel politically threatened, the institutions of state suddenly become intensely interested in its opponents.

“The latest episode is the move to bring former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, under the scrutiny of the EFCC.”

The former Vice President equally recalled that the Olusegun Obasanjo administration investigated him but was left with no evidence to pursue his prosecution.

According to him, almost two decades later, different administrations controlled the machinery of the Nigerian state, yet no successive administration found it necessary to prosecute him for corruption.

The Allied Peoples Movement, APM, presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of desperation to silent the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Makinde was reacting to the blockade of the convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Benue State.

He condemned the incident, stressing that the APC is overburdened by the sad reality of marketing an unpopular President Bola Tinubu to Nigerians.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Anthony Ehilebo, the Oyo State governor said the APC resorted to barbaric tactics like intimidation, harassment and the unlawful obstruction of the legitimate activities of opposition parties and leaders over its failure to market Tinubu to Nigerians.

Recall that thugs had prevented Obi and his entourage from entering Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Tuesday.

Confirming the incident, the Benue State government said it was not notified about Obi’s visit.

Makinde’s statement read: “We strongly condemn the unwarranted obstruction of the convoy of the Presidential Candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), former Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, during his visit to Benue State on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

“The incident, in which Mr. Obi’s convoy was obstructed by a group of suspected state-sponsored thugs on his way to Yelwata to visit families affected by the tragic killings in the area, is deeply disturbing and totally unacceptable. It marks a new low in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s desperation to stifle opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“It is particularly worrisome that this targeted attack came barely 24 hours after Mr. Peter Obi joined other notable opposition leaders to show solidarity with our principal, the Presidential Candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Engr. Seyi Makinde, at the inauguration of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Office on Monday, September 7, 2026.

“Expectedly, the ruling APC—overburdened by the sad reality of marketing an unpopular President Tinubu to Nigerians—is rattled by recent political developments, leading them to resort to barbaric tactics, including intimidation, harassment, and the unlawful obstruction of the legitimate activities of opposition parties and leaders.

“Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every citizen of Nigeria the freedom to move throughout the country and reside in any part thereof. Similarly, Section 40 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freely assemble and associate.”

The statement insisted that claims by the Benue State government that Obi did not seek prior permission from the state government before his visit, were completely unacceptable and condemnable.

“Let us make it clear: every Nigerian, presidential candidate or otherwise, has a constitutionally guaranteed right to enter, live, and move freely within any state in Nigeria to conduct legitimate activities without prior permission or notice.

“Setting up roadblocks and engaging thugs to stop opposition candidates have no place in a constitutional democracy.

“We demand that the Nigerian Police immediately commence a full-scale investigation into this unfortunate incident and bring the culprits to book in the interest of our democracy.

“As a campaign, we remain committed to a peaceful electoral process; however, we state clearly that we shall not be deterred or cowed by the antics of those who seek to make peaceful participation impossible.”

Former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mulikat Adeola Akande, has urged Nigerians to rally behind the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, saying the country cannot afford to miss what she described as an opportunity for genuine change in 2027.

Akande, who spoke at the public presentation of Adebayo’s book, ‘Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance and Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031,’ expressed confidence in Adebayo’s capacity to transform the country.

She challenged Nigerians who continue to dismiss the SDP as a small political party, arguing that the size of a political platform should not determine the quality of leadership it can produce.

According to her, Adebayo has presented himself and his policies to Nigerians and has demonstrated a willingness to devote himself fully to changing the country.

“Each time I hear the presidential candidate speak in public, I just pity Nigerians because it is so easy to see someone who can take you to the promised land,” Akande said.

She urged Nigerians not to allow the SDP’s relatively smaller political structure to discourage them from considering Adebayo for the presidency.

“People believe, oh SDP is a small party; we don’t know. They only want to align with the big parties,’” she said, insisting that Nigerians should instead focus on the candidate and what he has offered to the country.

She said the responsibility for determining Nigeria’s future ultimately rests with citizens, warning that future generations would hold Nigerians accountable for the decisions they make at the 2027 election.

“The earlier we begin to think in the right direction, the better,” she said. “He has offered himself. He has offered everything that he has to ensure that this country changes.”

She wondered why Nigerians would continue to support political actors they believe are responsible for the country’s current challenges while ignoring an alternative that has presented itself before them.

“Do we like what is going wrong right now? You know the people who are causing this, and you are still standing by them. What else do you want?” she asked.

She also dismissed concerns that Adebayo’s promises could amount to the same political rhetoric Nigerians have heard from politicians in the past.

She argued that the SDP’s candidate had gone beyond merely making political statements by outlining his policies and what he intends to accomplish if elected.

“He has told you his policies. He has told you what he can do,” she said.

Akande further appealed to supporters of the SDP to take the party’s message beyond the gathering, urging them to mobilise Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“Just like the Prophet El-Buba said, everybody should go out there and get people to believe in what we are doing in the SDP,” she said.

She emphasised that the movement should not be reduced to the ambitions of individual politicians, saying the ultimate objective was to rescue the country from its current difficulties.

“It is not about me. It is not about him. It is about the country,” she declared.
She warned that Nigerians could regret failing to seize what she described as an opportunity for change in 2027.

“The earlier we latch on to this opportunity, the better for us,” she said, adding that Nigerians should carefully consider the consequences if the opportunity is missed after the 2027 election.