Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the reported assault on a campaigner for President Bola Tinubu in Delta State, describing the incident as a dangerous affront to democratic values and political tolerance.
The victim, Mr. Tempo Mudi, said to be a Protocol Officer to the Governor of Delta State, was reportedly attacked by some youths while campaigning for President Tinubu’s re-election at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun, Warri.
Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said no Nigerian should be subjected to violence or intimidation for expressing political views or supporting a candidate of choice.
He described the attack as “deeply disturbing” and warned that acts of political violence undermine the democratic culture Nigerians have struggled to build over the years.
“Democracy is sustained by the contest of ideas, not the exchange of blows. Every citizen has the constitutional right to campaign for the candidate of his or her choice without fear of harassment, intimidation or physical attack. Violence has no place in our politics and must be rejected without equivocation,” Atiku said.
The former vice president acknowledged the growing frustration among Nigerians over the country’s economic situation, rising inflation, unemployment, declining purchasing power and worsening insecurity, saying citizens have legitimate reasons to demand accountability from the Federal Government.
According to him, the prevailing hardship has left many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet, with businesses shutting down and hope diminishing across the country.
“The verdict on this administration is already being delivered daily in the homes, markets and workplaces of Nigerians. Families are struggling to survive, businesses are shutting down, hunger is spreading, and hope is fading. These realities cannot be erased by political slogans or campaign rallies,” he said.
Despite the widespread dissatisfaction, Atiku maintained that violence could never be justified as a means of expressing political grievances.
He urged Nigerians to channel their anger and frustration through lawful and democratic means, insisting that elections, rather than physical confrontation, remain the legitimate avenue for changing governments.
“Our greatest weapon against bad governance is not violence but the power of the vote. Those who have failed the Nigerian people should be peacefully retired through the ballot, not through mob action. Democracy offers every citizen the opportunity to effect change, and we must protect that sacred process,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate also appealed to Nigerian youths, political supporters and civil society organisations to remain peaceful and committed to constitutional methods of political participation.
He further urged political parties and their supporters to conduct campaigns with civility and respect for opposing views, warning that intolerance and violence weaken democratic institutions and threaten national unity.
“The Nigeria we seek is one where political opponents are persuaded, not persecuted; where campaigns are won through ideas, not intimidation; and where governments derive their legitimacy from the freely expressed will of the people,” Atiku added.
He called on Nigerians to reject violence in all its forms and instead mobilise for peaceful participation in the electoral process, expressing confidence that the country’s future would ultimately be determined by the ballot box rather than by acts of political intimidation.
Atiku Condemns Assault on Tinubu Campaigner, Urges Nigerians to Reject Political Violence
Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the reported assault on a campaigner for President Bola Tinubu in Delta State, describing the incident as a dangerous affront to democratic values and political tolerance.
The victim, Mr. Tempo Mudi, said to be a Protocol Officer to the Governor of Delta State, was reportedly attacked by some youths while campaigning for President Tinubu’s re-election at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun, Warri.
Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said no Nigerian should be subjected to violence or intimidation for expressing political views or supporting a candidate of choice.
He described the attack as “deeply disturbing” and warned that acts of political violence undermine the democratic culture Nigerians have struggled to build over the years.
“Democracy is sustained by the contest of ideas, not the exchange of blows. Every citizen has the constitutional right to campaign for the candidate of his or her choice without fear of harassment, intimidation or physical attack. Violence has no place in our politics and must be rejected without equivocation,” Atiku said.
The former vice president acknowledged the growing frustration among Nigerians over the country’s economic situation, rising inflation, unemployment, declining purchasing power and worsening insecurity, saying citizens have legitimate reasons to demand accountability from the Federal Government.
According to him, the prevailing hardship has left many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet, with businesses shutting down and hope diminishing across the country.
“The verdict on this administration is already being delivered daily in the homes, markets and workplaces of Nigerians. Families are struggling to survive, businesses are shutting down, hunger is spreading, and hope is fading. These realities cannot be erased by political slogans or campaign rallies,” he said.
Despite the widespread dissatisfaction, Atiku maintained that violence could never be justified as a means of expressing political grievances.
He urged Nigerians to channel their anger and frustration through lawful and democratic means, insisting that elections, rather than physical confrontation, remain the legitimate avenue for changing governments.
“Our greatest weapon against bad governance is not violence but the power of the vote. Those who have failed the Nigerian people should be peacefully retired through the ballot, not through mob action. Democracy offers every citizen the opportunity to effect change, and we must protect that sacred process,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate also appealed to Nigerian youths, political supporters and civil society organisations to remain peaceful and committed to constitutional methods of political participation.
He further urged political parties and their supporters to conduct campaigns with civility and respect for opposing views, warning that intolerance and violence weaken democratic institutions and threaten national unity.
“The Nigeria we seek is one where political opponents are persuaded, not persecuted; where campaigns are won through ideas, not intimidation; and where governments derive their legitimacy from the freely expressed will of the people,” Atiku added.
He called on Nigerians to reject violence in all its forms and instead mobilise for peaceful participation in the electoral process, expressing confidence that the country’s future would ultimately be determined by the ballot box rather than by acts of political intimidation.