Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the grievances surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s case and explain the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria.
Atiku made the call on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Abuja during an Independence Day address marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate urged the Federal Government to ensure that the rule of law is applied fairly and that questions concerning due process are addressed by the relevant authorities.
“On this day, I call for the rule of law to be applied fairly in every case. The continued detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai raises questions about due process that the authorities must answer,” Atiku said.
On Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Atiku said his right to pursue lawful appeals following his conviction should be respected. He also urged the authorities to address the grievances and divisions associated with the case.
Atiku further renewed his call for the release of five young Nigerians reportedly arrested in Borno State after wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan “Tinubu Must Go”. He argued that political expression should not, in itself, be grounds for imprisonment, while acknowledging that allegations made by the police should be tested fairly.
Criticism of Tinubu’s Economic Record
The former vice president used the Independence Day address to criticise the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, public finances and insecurity.
He argued that many Nigerians continued to struggle with rising living costs despite the President’s assertion that the country was entering an era of prosperity.
Atiku questioned the administration’s management of public spending, including the extension of the 2025 budget into December 2026, and called for greater transparency regarding government expenditure, outstanding payments and borrowing.
He also challenged the Federal Government to provide details of its conditional cash transfer programme after APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda said more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians had benefited.
Atiku questioned how the beneficiaries were identified and paid, particularly given claims that some lacked mobile phones or access to digital services.
The former vice president also criticised the government’s security record and called for accountability over incidents in which Nigerians had lost their lives.
Electoral Commitments
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Atiku pledged that, if elected president, he would respect the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), support the prompt publication of results from polling units and pursue legal action against anyone found guilty of vote-buying or manipulating election results.
His remarks form part of the growing political debate over the administration’s economic record, public accountability, civil liberties and preparations for the next general election.
Atiku’s criticisms and proposals represent the ADC candidate’s political position. The allegations and questions he raised require assessment against relevant official records and responses from the authorities concerned.