Atiku: VDM’s arrest shows growing authoritarianism of Tinubu’s regime
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has blamed the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for the arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, social media commentator known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
VDM was last week arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and has been in custody since then.
In a post on his X handle, on Monday, Atiku said the arrest by the EFCC is another “blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration, which has made political repression a hallmark of its rule.”
The opposition leader also lamented that while “security agencies are quick to target dissenters and critics, often in complete disregard of due process, political loyalists with credible allegations of corruption walk free, trading sycophancy for immunity.”
According to Atiku, “The arrest and continued detention of social media influencer and outspoken critic, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet another blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration, which has made political repression a hallmark of its rule.
“Even more alarming is the fact that Mr. Otse remains in custody without any formal charges is a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election said the latest episode is part of a disturbing pattern.
“The Tinubu regime’s relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians, particularly those who dare to speak truth to power or align with the political opposition. We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy.
“The Tinubu administration’s systematic crackdown on opposition voices is nothing short of disgraceful. It is an affront to democratic norms and must be fiercely condemned and resisted,” he said.
