Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has spoken out against a string of reported attacks on opposition politicians, accusing supporters of the ruling party of trying to intimidate rivals ahead of the 2027 elections.

What he said

In a statement on X on Saturday, 31 October 2026, Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), condemned the assault on AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore in Ado-Ekiti and the attack on the convoy of Manir Muhammad Dan'iya, the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State. He also criticised what he said was harassment of residents in Sokoto for wearing ADC-branded clothing, and described the unexplained disappearance of some social media influencers as a warning sign.

Who he blamed

Atiku blamed loyalists and enforcers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the attacks happened while President Bola Tinubu was abroad on a religious pilgrimage. He described the violence as a sign of desperation and said the ADC would resist any attempt to wipe out political opposition.

His demands

He called on the federal government to order immediate and transparent investigations into the attacks on Sowore and Dan'iya, and to guarantee a free, fair and competitive environment for the 2027 elections.

Background

Sowore says he and his team were attacked at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on Friday; police deny he was kidnapped and have ordered an investigation. Dan'iya says his convoy was blocked and shot at near the Sokoto airport on Friday night. The APC and the Sokoto State Government had not responded to Atiku's statement at the time of the report.

With Nigeria's 2027 general elections still ahead, popular television journalist Seun Okinbaloye has raised a serious concern about the credibility of the electoral process.

What he said

In a statement now circulating widely online, Okinbaloye reportedly said the 2027 election has already been rigged. Reports link his warning to concerns about flaws in the national voter register.

The allegation raises troubling questions about Nigeria's democracy and about whether citizens will be able to freely choose their leaders.

Why it matters

The claim comes at a time when public confidence in Nigeria's electoral system remains a major issue, especially after the controversies that followed previous elections.

For millions of Nigerians, the concern goes beyond which political party wins or loses. The bigger question is whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can guarantee a transparent, credible and fair election in 2027.

A claim, not proof

However, the allegation should not be mistaken for established evidence that the election has been manipulated. A claim this serious needs clear facts and proper investigation.

If Nigerians are already questioning the credibility of an election that has not yet taken place, INEC and the relevant authorities have a responsibility to address those concerns before voters head to the polls.

Democracy loses its meaning when citizens begin to believe that election results are decided before voting begins.

What do you think? Can Nigerians still trust INEC to conduct a free and fair election in 2027?

Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the daughter of President Bola Tinubu and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, has waded into the 2027 presidential race with a warning to voters about two of her father's main rivals.

What she said

Speaking at the launch of the Iyaloja General Movement for Renewed Hope Initiatives at Eagle Square in Abuja on Thursday, 29 October 2026, Tinubu-Ojo reportedly urged Nigerians not to support Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). She argued that if either of them won, they would undo the progress made by the current government and set the country back. The remarks were reported on Saturday, 31 October.

The movement

The new group is meant to mobilise market women and traders across the country to support President Tinubu's re-election. As Iyaloja-General, Tinubu-Ojo is the ceremonial head of market women's associations nationwide, a role her father's supporters see as a valuable link to grassroots voters.

Background

Several pro-Tinubu groups have been launched in recent weeks, including a two-million-man march announced by Atiku's son, Abba, and the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement backed by Tompolo. Atiku and Obi are both campaigning hard, and the debate over the economy, rising prices and the government's borrowing has dominated the race so far. Neither the ADC nor the NDC had responded to her comments at the time of the report.

How people reacted

APC supporters welcomed the launch, while opposition supporters accused the President's family of turning a traditional market leadership role into a campaign platform.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has inaugurated a campaign council of more than 3,000 members for the 2027 general elections, according to reports on Saturday, 31 October 2026.

What happened

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri reportedly inaugurated the council at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Yola on Thursday, 29 October. Retired General Buba Marwa was named co-chairman, and the council includes representatives from the state's three senatorial zones and its communities. At the same event, a group of defectors from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party was received into the APC and presented to the state party chairman, Hamza Bello Madagali, by the party's North-East national vice chairman, Idris Shuaibu.

What was said

Speakers reportedly said the party would leave nothing to chance in its bid to win the state, and Fintiri warned that anti-party behaviour would not be tolerated. Madagali acknowledged that some stakeholders had been left off the initial list and appealed for patience.

Background

Adamawa is the home state of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, which makes the contest there especially significant. Buba Marwa is a former military governor of Lagos State and has headed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Party switching has been common across the country in the run-up to the elections, with governors and lawmakers moving between parties.

What happens next

The council is expected to begin campaigning across the state's local government areas in the coming weeks.