Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the release of five men arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri, Borno State, over their alleged involvement in the production and wearing of T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
Atiku, in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, questioned the basis for the arrests and argued that citizens should be allowed to express political opinions peacefully.
The five men were arrested by the Borno State Police Command and subsequently arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.
According to a First Information Report cited in reports on the case, the defendants are Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
The police accused the men of offences including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery. The allegations were said to relate to an incident around West End Roundabout in Maiduguri on September 25.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6 for ruling on the bail application, while October 26 was fixed for the substantive trial.
Reacting to the development, Atiku described the slogan as a political expression and questioned whether wearing a shirt carrying such a message should constitute grounds for detention.
The former vice president recalled that President Bola Tinubu, while in opposition, participated in protests against policies of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, particularly the government’s fuel-pricing policy.
Atiku argued that Nigerians should similarly have the opportunity to express dissatisfaction with policies of the current administration through peaceful and lawful means.
He linked the issue to the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians, citing rising costs of food, transportation, electricity and other basic necessities.
According to Atiku, the phrase “Tinubu Must Go” represents a political demand rather than a threat or act of violence.
He therefore urged the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the five defendants, ensure that they have access to their families and lawyers, and release them if the T-shirts were the sole reason for their detention.
“Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them,” Atiku said.
The former vice president’s intervention comes a day after he publicly endorsed the broader “Tinubu Must Go” movement, describing it as a campaign for political change ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development has also attracted reactions from opposition political groups in Borno. The state chapter of the ADC condemned the arrests, describing them as an infringement on the rights of the affected individuals. That characterisation is the party’s position and remains separate from the criminal allegations before the court.
The case comes amid increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with supporters of different political parties and movements using various platforms to express their positions.
The five defendants remain subject to the ongoing court process, and the allegations against them have not been established by the court.
The matter is expected to return to court on October 6 for a ruling on their bail applications, while the substantive proceedings are scheduled for October 26.
