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Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has warned against detaining individuals solely on the basis of their political beliefs or affiliations.
He made the statement via his official Facebook page on Monday while reacting to the recent arrest of former Attorney General Abubakar Malami and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, among others.
He said such actions pose a serious threat to democratic principles.
The warning followed his return from Umrah (lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, after which he led a delegation on a solidarity visit to the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
He specifically called for the release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alongside others described as political detainees.
He said no individual should be held solely for holding opposing political views or belonging to a different platform from the government in power.
According to him, democracy must be anchored on tolerance, respect for differing opinions, and adherence to the rule of law, noting that suppressing dissent weakens public trust in governance.
Detaining opponents over political views threatens democracy – Atiku calls for El-Rufai’s release
