The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Dayo Israel, has accused elements within the opposition, particularly supporters of the Obidient Movement, of orchestrating attacks and intimidation against supporters of President Bola Tinubu.
Israel alleged that many Nigerians, particularly people in the creative industry, had become afraid to publicly identify with Tinubu or express support for his administration because of the attacks and harassment they could face.
The APC youth leader made the allegations in a statement titled, “The Targeted Attack Against Tinubu Supporters Must End: We Will Not Be Intimidated,” in which he condemned what he described as a sustained campaign of hostility against the President, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and their supporters.
According to him, the attacks have gone beyond ordinary political disagreements, with individuals allegedly facing threats, insults and physical confrontations simply because they identify with the ruling party or defend the President’s policies.
“What we are witnessing is no longer ordinary political disagreement. It is a deliberate, sustained campaign of targeted hate against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the First Lady, and every Nigerian who openly stands with him,” he said.
Israel claimed that comedians, entertainers, creative professionals, ordinary supporters and public officials had become targets of online attacks and intimidation whenever they publicly expressed support for the President.
He added that some people in the creative industry were now reluctant to associate themselves with Tinubu publicly because of the consequences they feared.
“Many in the creative industry have grown afraid to publicly identify with the President, not because they disagree with him, but because they know the personal cost of doing so. Families have been dragged into the fray. This is not politics. It is persecution,” he stated.
The APC youth leader also referenced the confrontation involving the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, in London on Thursday, November 12.
Amupitan had addressed an event at Chatham House on preparations for the 2027 general elections before reportedly facing a group of Nigerian protesters who surrounded his vehicle, shouted insults and demanded his resignation.
The protesters reportedly accused INEC of bias in favour of Tinubu and the APC, while describing the electoral commission as a “criminal organisation” over concerns surrounding the preliminary voters’ register.
Israel alleged that some of the protesters were associated with the Peter Obi-led political movement and questioned the motive behind the confrontation.
He also cited comments by a UK-based Nigerian lawyer who reportedly described the protesters as a small group of between 10 and 15 people and alleged that some had been paid to stage the demonstration.
The APC youth leader further referenced former Senator Shehu Sani’s condemnation of the incident, noting that the harassment of an electoral umpire amounted to an attack on democratic institutions.
“This was not a spontaneous expression of democratic concern. It was targeted intimidation of an independent institution, dressed up as protest,” he alleged.
Turning to events in Abuja, Israel referred to the reported disruption that followed Tinubu’s attendance at Juma’at prayers at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, on Friday, November 13.
He alleged that suspected opposition-sponsored thugs attempted to attack security operatives attached to the President’s convoy, with videos circulating online showing youths throwing stones and chanting rejection slogans.
Israel warned that any further attacks targeting the President or his convoy would not be tolerated, insisting that political disagreements must be addressed within the confines of the law.
“Any further attack on the person or the convoy of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be condoned. Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law, not the law of the mob,” he said.
He also defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu against what he described as attacks on her person, highlighting her activities through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
According to him, the initiative has mobilised and deployed more than N100 billion in three years to support women entrepreneurs, widows of fallen security personnel, schoolgirls, disaster victims and vulnerable families across the country.
Israel said the initiative had provided grants, scholarships, food assistance and other interventions to millions of Nigerians, arguing that attacks against the First Lady also affected the people benefiting from her programmes.
On the President’s performance, the APC youth leader described Tinubu as a reformer whose administration had taken difficult decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy.
He acknowledged that the economic reforms had tested the patience and resilience of Nigerians but maintained that there were signs of improvement, particularly in foreign exchange liquidity.
He cited the increase in international spending limits on naira-denominated bank cards by some financial institutions as evidence of improving conditions in the foreign exchange market.
Israel insisted that Nigerians who supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election retained the constitutional right to support him again in 2027 without facing intimidation or harassment.
“The majority of Nigerians voted for him in 2023. They retain the right to support him again in 2027 if that is their democratic choice. No amount of online terror, physical harassment, or manufactured outrage will erase that right,” he said.
His comments come amid growing political tension and reports of attacks and disruptions at political gatherings across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Friday, November 13, Tinubu condemned the rising incidents of violence at political gatherings and directed security agencies to deal firmly with individuals involved in thuggery and other activities capable of disrupting public order.
The President urged politicians and their supporters to avoid violence, stressing that political campaigns should focus on policies, ideas and programmes that would improve the welfare of Nigerians.
“Every form of violence stands condemned. Violence should never have a place in our political campaigns as we move toward the 2027 general elections,” Tinubu said.
He also called on political leaders across party lines to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters, warning against turning political opponents into enemies.
“As the leader of this country, I commit myself to a peaceful, free, and fair election, and I urge political leaders and supporters across party lines to conduct themselves responsibly,” he stated.
Tinubu further maintained that Nigerians belonged to the same national community regardless of their political affiliations.
“I have said that being in different political parties or pursuing different ambitions does not make us enemies,” he said.
The President added, “As Nigerians, we are members of the same household living in different rooms. Therefore, our politics must elevate human conditions and focus on national progress and development.”
He subsequently authorised security agencies to confront individuals involved in political thuggery and other activities capable of threatening public order.
“We shall not tolerate any irresponsible conduct by politicians and their supporters,” Tinubu declared, adding that security agencies were authorised to confront “thuggery and other anti-social and anti-democratic activities with full force.”
