Civil Society Group Flags Alleged Plot to Target Opposition Leaders

 

A civil society organisation has raised concerns over an alleged plan to arrest and detain prominent opposition figures in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the group, led by coordinator Adekunle O. Adebayo, claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai are among those reportedly marked for arrest.

Operating under the platform “Bí a bá pa ìtàn mọ́, ìtàn á pa wa” (When truth is suppressed, it eventually destroys those who suppress it), the group further named former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, former Minister of Communications Isa Ali Pantami, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, and other notable political figures as potential targets.

According to the statement, the alleged plan follows prior arrests and detentions of former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, and former Minister of Labour Chris Ngige.

The group claimed that the arrests are part of a covert, multi-agency security directive allegedly coordinated from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and executed through a task force involving anti-corruption, intelligence, and financial crime agencies.

Describing the move as “a political project aimed not at law enforcement but at neutralising opposition forces, particularly within emerging coalition platforms,” the statement warned of potential abuses including selective arrests, prolonged detention without charge, coercion of politically exposed persons to defect to the ruling party, disruption of lawful opposition meetings, and deliberate factionalisation of opposition parties.

The group specifically highlighted Nasir el-Rufai, noting that his administration has been under investigation for over two years without any established evidence of personal wrongdoing.

“These actions, if carried out, would constitute grave violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including breaches of the rights to personal liberty, freedom of association and expression, equality before the law, and judicial independence,” the statement said.

It stressed that the selective application of law enforcement based on political affiliation undermines constitutional democracy.

The organisation called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to monitor developments closely, warning that the country risks sliding into a system where democratic institutions exist in form but political power is maintained through coercion and selective justice.