The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the attacks on the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, Atiku described the incidents as a serious threat to democracy, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using intimidation and oppression against opposition politicians and their supporters.

He also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that its actions had created an environment in which opposition candidates could no longer feel safe. He warned that the country was moving towards dictatorship.

Atiku called for immediate and transparent investigations into the attacks on Sowore and Dan’iya, while urging Tinubu to caution his supporters against intimidating political opponents.

The statement read:

“The simultaneous attacks on the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore @sowore, and the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State, His Excellency Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, are deeply troubling and unacceptable.

“These twin assaults expose the extent to which the ruling APC administration is prepared to oppress and intimidate opposition leaders and their supporters.

“It is particularly disturbing that while President Bola Tinubu is away on spiritual pilgrimage, political enforcers and thugs loyal to his party are unleashing terror on his political opponents at home. These two realities cannot coexist in a democracy.

“The continued attacks on opposition figures and the unexplained disappearance of critical social media influencers are clear red flags of a dangerous slide toward a censored state where the opposition is crushed by the brute force of the current government. These incidents are unbecoming of any democratic government and starkly reveal the desperation of the Tinubu administration.

“We therefore demand immediate and transparent investigations into both attacks. The Tinubu government must refrain from any attempt to muzz

A professor of political economy, Pat Utomi, has cautioned young Nigerians against allowing politicians to use them as instruments for advancing their personal interests.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Utomi urged youths to abandon political thuggery and stop carrying out violent activities on behalf of politicians.

He gave the warning in a post on his X handle on Saturday.

The political economist lamented that corrupt politicians offer young people little in return for the chaos they create in their communities, while continuing to benefit from the violence and disorder.

He also challenged the youths to consider whether their parents would be proud of them for engaging in such activities and whether they would still want to be involved in political thuggery when they turn 50.

“To every young man doing agbero (thuggery) work for corrupt politicians, I want you to sit down and ask yourself an important question, Is this what you will still be doing at 50? Are your parents proud of what you are doing?

“These corrupt politicians will feed you crumbs while continuing to profit from the chaos they are creating in your neighbourhoods,” Utomi wrote.

He further warned young Nigerians against allowing themselves to become tools of violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Come 2027, please do not allow yourself to become an instrument of destruction in these men’s hands. You deserve better,” he added.

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack on the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his team at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of the town at about 10pm on Friday, following a tip-off.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday, noting that several items were recovered from the suspects.

The suspects were identified as Joseph Tayo, 32; Olatunji Abayomi, 41; Isaac Amba, 22; Kehinde Ajigbana, 18; Tosin David, 18; Solomon Iyanu, 18; Ogunsola Ayomide, 21; Ojo Ayodeji, 22; Kayode Dada, 32; Segun Olatunji, 28; and Salami Emmanuel, 53.

Items recovered during the operation included two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two Indian hemp crushers, a pack of Rizla, seven ATM cards and 13 mobile phones.

Other recovered items were two vehicle keys, a flash drive, an MTN 5G Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter and ₦250.

The police said investigations were ongoing to determine the individual roles of the suspects and establish whether they had any connections to the attack.

The Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, assured residents that anyone found responsible would face the full weight of the law.

He said the command “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice.”

Reacting to the arrests, Sowore called on the police to go beyond apprehending the suspects and identify those who allegedly planned, financed and sponsored the attack.

In a post on X on Saturday, the AAC presidential aspirant described the incident as a coordinated assault rather than an ordinary disagreement.

He maintained that arresting 11 suspects would not be sufficient if those who allegedly masterminded the attack were allowed to escape prosecution.

“Arresting 11 suspects is not enough if those who planned, financed, coordinated and facilitated the attack remain untouched,” he wrote.

Sowore also alleged that some of the attackers were linked to the City Boys group and called for investigations into possible connections between the incident and officials of the Ekiti State Government.

He further appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to preserve and release CCTV footage from the scene to assist in identifying everyone involved.

The activist also demanded an explanation from the police over their initial description of the incident as an altercation.