Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the arrest of Sunday Igboho, alleging he is a state-backed militia leader working for President Tinubu to suppress opposition campaigns in South-West Nigeria, a claim the presidency has vehemently denied.
The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally accused Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo of acting as a state-sponsored “militia” for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Speaking to Peoples Gazetteon Monday, March 16, 2026, Abubakar’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, alleged that Adeyemo’s recent threats to block opposition campaigns in the South-West are being orchestrated with the presidency’s backing. “There is no doubt about Igboho being a militia of Tinubu,” Ibe stated, adding, “He cannot be working on his own. Who is he? He has the state’s support. He has the support of Tinubu. Tinubu should shut down this nonsense.” The allegations come amid heightening political friction as the 2027 election cycle nears, with Abubakar’s team vowing to campaign in all 774 local governments regardless of regional threats.
Paul Ibe further characterized the situation as a continuation of the “weaponization of tribalism” seen in previous elections, urging the State Security Service (SSS) and the international community to intervene. He claimed that the presidency is employing “anti-democratic forces” to stifle the opposition, specifically referencing previous comments by presidential aide Daniel Bwala regarding the “Jagaban Army” as evidence of a militia template. “Tinubu working with people like Igboho cannot afford to pour fuel on the already raging fire in Nigeria the state of hopelessness and insecurity is pervasive in the country,” Ibe warned, insisting that Adeyemo must be arrested and investigated to prevent the escalation of violence against supporters of Abubakar and Peter Obi.
In a swift rebuttal, presidential aide Daniel Bwala denied any link between the administration and the agitator, dismissing the claims as a political spin. Bwala clarified that his past comments regarding a “militia” were directed at APC youth wings during his time in the opposition and did not apply to the President’s current governance. “Sunday Igboho has no connection with Asiwaju. He was never in Asiwaju’s campaign. He has never been to the villa,” Bwala asserted, noting that Adeyemo has frequently spoken against Tinubu in the past. He concluded that Adeyemo’s remarks were independent political statements and that “everybody knows he has no relationship with President Bola Tinubu.”
NEWS NOW:
