Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on supporters of opposition parties to stop making verbal attacks against former presidential candidate Peter Obi, warning that such actions undermine opposition unity and weaken efforts to advance Nigeria’s democratic development.
Atiku made the statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, amid rising tensions and exchanges among supporters of opposition leaders.
“Anyone who insults Obi or Atiku does not mean well for the leaders, the Coalition ADC, and for Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said, emphasizing the need for cooperation among opposition figures.
The former vice president noted that internal divisions within the opposition primarily benefit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he described as the main beneficiary of infighting.
“The only persons who benefit from such a civil war are the APC urban bandits who want to maintain the satanic status quo,” Atiku added.
He urged opposition supporters to focus on unity, stressing that collaboration is critical to advancing national development and strengthening democracy in Nigeria.
The remarks come amid concerns that some of Atiku’s supporters have unfairly targeted Obi, potentially deepening rifts within the fragile African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
The coalition has gained momentum following high-profile defections aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Obi joined the ADC in December 2025 after leaving the Labour Party, citing the need for a stronger opposition platform to tackle Nigeria’s economic challenges and governance issues. Atiku had defected a month earlier, framing his move as a mission to “rescue Nigeria.”