Human rights advocate and social commentator, Aisha Yesufu, has appealed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to caution his supporters following a series of alleged attacks against individuals backing Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yesufu made the appeal in a statement published on her verified X account on Tuesday evening, expressing concern over what she described as increasingly hostile exchanges among supporters of opposition politicians.
The activist specifically accused some individuals sympathetic to Atiku of engaging in aggressive activities on social media, where they allegedly targeted supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Yesufu, the online confrontation had gone beyond ordinary political disagreements, with some supporters allegedly resorting to personal attacks and hostile comments against people associated with Obi’s political movement.
She disclosed that she had also become a target of the alleged social media attacks.
Yesufu said the development was particularly disappointing to her because of her previous political association with Atiku. She noted that she had worked alongside the former Vice President when they belonged to the same political party and therefore expected a higher level of maturity and mutual respect from his supporters.
The BringBackOurGirls co-convener called on Atiku to intervene and discourage his followers from attacking other members of the opposition camp.
She appealed directly to the former Vice President, urging him to use his influence to ensure that his supporters conduct themselves responsibly while engaging in political discussions.
Yesufu wrote that Atiku’s supporters had allegedly embarked on an aggressive social media campaign against people supporting Obi and stated that she had personally experienced the attacks.
The activist maintained that political competition should not degenerate into hostility between individuals who ultimately share an interest in challenging the ruling party.
She further encouraged supporters of opposition politicians to embrace tolerance, restraint and political sportsmanship as preparations for the 2027 election intensify.
According to her, opposition supporters should recognise that disagreements over candidates and political strategies are normal in a democratic system and should not become a reason for personal abuse or division.
Yesufu also stressed the need for opposition figures and their supporters to concentrate on the broader political objective rather than engaging one another in unnecessary online battles.
She argued that the major contest in 2027 should be focused on presenting a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
The activist warned that continued hostility between supporters of opposition candidates could weaken their collective efforts and ultimately benefit the ruling party.
She therefore urged political leaders to discourage inflammatory rhetoric among their followers and promote constructive engagement.
Yesufu’s comments come as political activities surrounding the 2027 presidential election continue to intensify, with opposition parties and political groups positioning themselves for what is expected to be a closely contested election.
Her intervention highlights the growing disagreements among supporters of prominent opposition figures and the need for greater cooperation if they hope to mount an effective challenge against the APC in the next presidential contest.
