A civil society organisation has raised fresh concerns over what it described as an emerging plot to arrest and detain prominent opposition figures, warning that the alleged move is aimed at shrinking Nigeria’s democratic space and imposing a de facto one-party system.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, December 23, and signed by its coordinator, Adekunle O. Adebayo, the group alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola are among key political figures marked for arrest.
The group, operating under the pro-Yoruba civic platform “Bí a bá pa ìtàn mọ́, ìtàn á pa wa” (When truth is suppressed, it ultimately destroys the suppressors), claimed that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, former Communications Minister Isa Ali Pantami, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, and other influential political actors are also being targeted.
According to the statement, the alleged plan follows earlier arrests and detentions of notable political figures, including Aminu Tambuwal, Abubakar Malami, and Chris Ngige. The group claimed these actions are part of a coordinated, multi-agency security operation allegedly driven from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
It further alleged that the operation is being executed through a task force comprising anti-corruption agencies, intelligence services, and financial-crime authorities, describing the initiative as “a political project disguised as law enforcement.”
“The objective is not justice or accountability,” the statement claimed, “but the systematic weakening of opposition forces, particularly those aligned with emerging coalition platforms ahead of future political contests.”
The group accused the authorities of employing tactics such as selective arrests, prolonged detentions without formal charges, intimidation of politically exposed persons to force defections to the ruling party, disruption of lawful opposition meetings, internal factionalisation of opposition parties, and the use of prolonged litigation to exhaust political rivals.
Special concern was raised over reports of a possible arrest of Nasir el-Rufai. The group noted that his administration has reportedly been under sustained investigation for more than two years without any established evidence of personal wrongdoing, despite extensive scrutiny.
It warned that any such arrests would amount to serious violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), citing threats to personal liberty, freedom of association and expression, equality before the law, and judicial independence.
“The selective application of law enforcement based on political affiliation is fundamentally incompatible with constitutional democracy,” the statement said.
The group called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely monitor unfolding developments, cautioning that the country risks drifting toward authoritarianism if democratic institutions are reduced to mere formalities while political power is consolidated through coercion and selective justice.
It concluded by urging vigilance and collective action to defend constitutional governance and preserve Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system
