Atiku Condemns Arrest of Five ‘Tinubu Must Go’ Protesters, Recalls Tinubu’s Jonathan-Era Protests

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the reported arrest and prosecution of five men in Maiduguri, Borno State, over T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go,” calling for their immediate release.

The development has triggered renewed debate over freedom of expression, political dissent and the treatment of opposition voices in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to reports, the five men—Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed—were arrested by the Borno State Police Command and subsequently charged before a magistrate court.

The charges reportedly include criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under provisions of the Borno State Penal Code. The police allegation, as contained in the charges, is that the men printed and wore the shirts with an intention to cause a breach of public peace.

The five defendants reportedly pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers applied for bail, while the court adjourned the matter to October 6, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application, with the substantive case scheduled for October 26.

Atiku Demands Their Release

Reacting to the development, Atiku called on the authorities to immediately release the five men if the political message on their clothing was the basis for their detention.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned how expressing a political opinion through a T-shirt could constitute an offence in a democracy.

Atiku argued that the phrase “Tinubu Must Go” represents a political demand rather than a weapon or physical threat. He said President Bola Tinubu could disagree with the message or campaign against it, but Nigerians should equally be able to express dissatisfaction with government policies through peaceful political expression.

He also asked the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the five men and ensure that they have access to their families and lawyers.

Atiku Recalls Tinubu’s Opposition to Jonathan

A major part of Atiku’s statement was his comparison between the reported arrests and Tinubu’s political activities during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Atiku recalled that Tinubu, who was then an opposition politician, participated in protests against Jonathan-era fuel-pricing policies.

The reference is to the nationwide protests that followed the January 2012 partial removal of the petrol subsidy. Tinubu was among prominent opposition figures who criticised the policy and participated in demonstrations against the Jonathan administration.

Atiku argued that the same freedom to criticise government policy that Tinubu exercised while in opposition should remain available to ordinary Nigerians now that he is president.

“Tinubu opposed Jonathan’s fuel policy in the streets. Nigerians are living with the consequences of Tinubu’s fuel policy in their homes,” Atiku said, according to reports of his statement.

He linked the issue to the broader economic pressures facing Nigerian households, citing the rising costs of fuel, food, transportation and electricity.

Atiku questioned whether Nigerians should have less freedom to express political dissatisfaction than political leaders had when they were in opposition.

Police Charges Go Beyond the T-Shirt, Reports Say

While Atiku and rights groups have focused heavily on freedom of expression, the reported police charges provide a different account of the circumstances.

According to PREMIUM TIMES, the defendants were not charged solely with wearing shirts containing a political slogan. The allegations include criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.

The police case reportedly alleges that the men acted together in printing and wearing the shirts with an intention to cause a breach of public peace around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.

The Borno State Police Command had not publicly responded to requests for comment at the time of PREMIUM TIMES' report.

That distinction is significant because the allegations contained in the court case will ultimately have to be tested through the judicial process. The defendants have pleaded not guilty, meaning the charges remain allegations rather than established facts.

Amnesty International Also Raises Concerns

The reported arrests have attracted criticism from Amnesty International, which described the detention as arbitrary and argued that peacefully expressing political views through clothing should not, by itself, amount to a criminal offence.

The rights organisation called for the release of the five men and criticised what it described as the criminalisation of peaceful political dissent.

The Borno chapter of the ADC has similarly condemned the arrests, describing the T-shirts as an expression of political opinion and urging the authorities to respect citizens' freedom of expression.

Political Context Ahead of 2027

The controversy comes at a politically significant period, with Nigeria's 2027 general election approaching and Atiku now the presidential candidate of the ADC.

Atiku has recently become directly associated with the “Tinubu Must Go” movement. On September 29, reports said he endorsed the movement after meeting one of its conveners, Abba Hikima.

The movement became prominent during Democracy Day protests in June 2026 and later developed into an organised political campaign critical of President Tinubu's administration.

Atiku's intervention over the Borno arrests therefore comes against the backdrop of his own opposition campaign and his broader criticism of the Tinubu administration.

The issue consequently combines two separate but related questions: the specific criminal allegations against the five defendants and the wider constitutional debate over the limits of peaceful political expression.

The Bigger Question: Where Does Political Expression End?

The case places renewed attention on the balance between maintaining public order and protecting freedom of expression.

Political slogans can be provocative and deeply critical of those in power. In a democratic system, however, criticism of government and calls for political change are part of political participation.

At the same time, where authorities allege that conduct connected to a political message involves conspiracy, incitement, disturbance of public peace or another criminal offence, those allegations are matters for investigation and judicial determination.

The central legal question in this case will therefore extend beyond the words printed on the T-shirts and involve the evidence supporting the charges against the five men.

For now, the defendants have pleaded not guilty, and the court proceedings remain ongoing.

Atiku has maintained that Nigerians should have the same opportunity to criticise the government that political leaders enjoyed when they were opposition figures.

His intervention has added another layer to an already contentious debate over political expression, law enforcement and democratic freedoms in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.