‘Nigerians want governance not chaos’ — Atiku slams Tinubu over Osun LG crisis.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again criticised President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the lingering political crises in Lagos and Osun State. 

Atiku attributed the chaos and killings that happened in Osun State over the upcoming local government election in the state to the APC, saying the ruling party is desperate “to retain power at all costs.”

The former Vice President said this in a statement issued via his verified X handle on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. 

Atiku alleged that the presidency and the leadership of the ruling party watched the chaos in “in complicit silence” while thugs and mercenaries moved around to seize control of the 30 local government areas in the state.

He said, “In Osun State, the APC orchestrated a full-scale assault on the democratic process, attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force. Armed thugs and mercenaries, operating under the party’s protection, launched an audacious bid to seize control of all 30 local government area council secretariats. 

“And yet, the so-called national leadership of the APC and the presidency watched in complicit silence. Had it not been for the fearless resistance of Osun people — who stood their ground against the APC’s rampaging foot soldiers — democracy in the state would have been trampled under the boots of political marauders acting at the behest of their party’s overlords.”

The opposition leader urged security agencies deployed for the coming elections to uphold their constitutional duty with professionalism and resist the urge to be used as enforcers of APC’s criminal agenda.

“These are dangerous times. The APC has abandoned any pretence of democratic legitimacy, resorting instead to brute force in its bid to cling to power — even as the people have overwhelmingly rejected it. We commend the brave citizens of Osun for standing up to the tyranny that sought to break them. Their resilience is a beacon of hope in the face of unrelenting oppression.