The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the recent crisis in Osun State, describing it as a desperate attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hold onto power through intimidation and lawlessness.

On Monday, suspected thugs attacked and killed the reinstated Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Remi Abass, along with five others in Osun State. The attack occurred when the chairman arrived at the local government secretariat with his supporters.

Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) later arrested several suspects accused of attempting to cause chaos in the state.

Before the attack, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of plotting to instigate unrest by issuing illegal directives to security operatives in an attempt to reinstate sacked local government .

In a statement on Tuesday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar alleged that the Tinubu-led APC government deployed armed thugs to forcibly take control of all 30 local government secretariats in Osun State.

Atiku described the events as a direct assault on democracy, accusing the APC of complicity in the crisis. He urged security agencies to remain neutral and resist being used as tools of oppression by the ruling party.

His statement reads in part:

    “Nigerians witnessed a disturbing display of lawlessness yesterday, as the Tinubu-led APC exposed its desperation to hold onto power at any cost—through outright political violence and the subversion of democracy.

    “In Osun State, the APC launched a full-scale attack on the democratic process, attempting to seize control of the local government councils through brute force. Armed thugs and mercenaries, operating under the party’s protection, stormed the local government area secretariats. Yet, the APC’s national leadership and the presidency remained silent.

    “If not for the fearless resistance of Osun’s people, democracy in the state would have been crushed under the boots of political enforcers acting on behalf of their party’s overlords.

    “Let this be clear: Osun State will not bow to anti-democratic forces. The people have demonstrated that they will not allow their electoral rights to be stolen, no matter the level of intimidation.

    “We demand that security agencies uphold their constitutional duty with professionalism and refuse to be used as enforcers of the APC’s criminal agenda. The world is watching.

    “These are dangerous times. The APC has abandoned any pretense of democratic legitimacy, resorting to violence in its desperate attempt to hold onto power, despite being overwhelmingly rejected by the people.

    “We commend the brave citizens of Osun for standing against tyranny. Their resilience is a beacon of hope in the face of unrelenting oppression.

    “Tinubu’s APC has made it clear—it will stop at nothing to undermine democracy and impose itself against the will of the people. But Nigerians must resist. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

    “President Bola Tinubu and his dwindling group of enablers must immediately end their reckless political sabotage—not just in Osun and Lagos, but across Nigeria.

    “The people demand governance, not chaos. Nigerians will not sit idly by while their democracy is hijacked by a power-hungry regime intent on setting the country on fire.”