Atiku Slams Arrest of VeryDarkMan, warns against Rising Authoritarianism

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the arrest and continued detention of social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), calling it a clear abuse of power and a sign of Nigeria’s democratic decline under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Otse was arrested on May 2, 2025, at a Guaranty Trust Bank branch in Abuja while reportedly trying to resolve unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the arrest, citing petitions from multiple individuals who accused the activist of cyberstalking.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Atiku described the incident as “yet another blatant abuse of power” by the current administration, expressing concern over what he sees as a deliberate pattern of silencing dissenters.

He argued that the continued detention of Otse without formal charges was not only unjustified but also unconstitutional, saying it reflects “a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights” and stands as “a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government.”

According to the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the incident is not isolated but part of a broader trend of attacks on freedom of expression in Nigeria. He said the government appears to be on “a relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians,” particularly those who speak truth to power or associate with opposition politics.

Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of applying justice selectively. While security agencies waste no time in pursuing critics of the government—often disregarding due process—he noted that allies of the administration with “credible allegations of corruption walk free, trading sycophancy for immunity.”

He expressed deep concern that Nigerians are gradually becoming numb to what he described as state-backed oppression. “We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy,” he warned.

Condemning what he called a systematic effort to muzzle critical voices, Atiku concluded that “the Tinubu administration’s crackdown on opposition voices is nothing short of disgraceful,” adding that such behavior “is an affront to democratic norms and must be fiercely condemned and resisted.”

Meanwhile, the arrest has sparked protests in parts of Abuja, with demonstrators demanding the immediate release of VDM. Public figures, including musician Davido and activist Seun Kuti, have also voiced support for the controversial influencer, highlighting growing concerns over shrinking civic space in Nigeria.