A public affairs analyst and activist, Adekunle Adebayo, has raised the alarm over what he described as a plot to arrest and intimidate key opposition figures in Nigeria, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Adebayo disclosed this in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, warning that the alleged move is part of a broader strategy to weaken opposition politics and entrench a de facto one-party system in the country.

He alleged that Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai have been marked for arrest.

Other prominent political figures mentioned in the alleged plot include Isa Ali Pantami, Rauf Aregbesola, and Kashim Ibrahim Imam, among others.

Previous Arrests and Growing Concerns

Adebayo further claimed that the alleged plan follows earlier arrests and detentions of former governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Chris Ngige of Anambra State, as well as former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

He warned that if these arrests were carried out, they would represent serious violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), citing threats to personal liberty, freedom of association, expression, equality before the law, and the independence of the judiciary.

Selective Law Enforcement

“Selective application of law enforcement based on political affiliation is incompatible with constitutional democracy,” Adebayo stated.

He urged Nigerians, civil society organizations, and the international community to closely monitor the unfolding events, cautioning that the country risks sliding into a situation where democratic institutions exist only in form, while political power is consolidated through coercion and selective justice.