By Muhammad Mamman
The Lagos chapter of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of contributing to rising insecurity across the country, alleging that his recent statements and political manoeuvres are emboldening groups threatening national stability.
Speaking in a statement released on Sunday, the Lagos APC said Atiku — the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections — has been “consistently projecting Nigeria as a failed state,” a move the party claims could worsen public fear and undermine government efforts to tackle violence.
Party officials argued that Atiku’s criticism of the current administration amounts to “playing politics with national security,” accusing him of leveraging insecurity narratives to weaken public confidence ahead of the 2027 polls.
The PDP has not immediately responded to the allegations, but the party has in the past defended Atiku’s remarks as “constructive criticism” aimed at pushing the government to act more decisively against worsening kidnappings, economic hardship and armed attacks across the country.
Security analysts say political blame-trading has become more frequent as Nigeria confronts multiple security crises — including banditry in the northwest, communal clashes in the Middle Belt, and separatist unrest in the southeast — while citizens express growing frustration over the government’s inability to ensure safety.
The federal government has yet to comment on the Lagos APC’s claims.
