A civil society group has alleged that a secret plan is underway to arrest and detain key opposition figures across the country.
The group warned that the alleged move signals a dangerous turn for Nigeria’s democracy and could heighten political tension ahead of future electoral contests.
According to the group, the alleged plot targets some of the most prominent figures in opposition politics. Those named include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, among others.
The group claimed the arrests are being prepared quietly and could be carried out without transparency.
The allegations were made in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja. The statement was signed by the group’s coordinator, Adekunle O. Adebayo.
He said the information available to the group points to a coordinated effort involving multiple security institutions acting in unison.
Operating under the platform “Bí a bá pa ìtàn mọ́, ìtàn á pa wa” (When truth is suppressed, it eventually destroys those who suppress it), the pro-Yoruba group said several other political actors have also been placed on the alleged watch list.
These include former Minister of Communications Isa Ali Pantami, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, and other notable figures across party lines.
The group claimed that the alleged plan did not emerge in isolation. It linked the development to earlier arrests and detentions involving former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, and former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige.
According to the statement, these earlier cases may have set the tone for what is now unfolding.
It further alleged that the operation is being driven by a covert, multi-agency security directive. The group claimed the coordination is coming from the Office of the National Security Adviser and is being executed through a task force made up of anti-corruption, intelligence, and financial crime agencies. It said the structure allows for rapid action with minimal public scrutiny.
The group described the alleged plan as “a political project aimed not at law enforcement, but at neutralising opposition forces, particularly within emerging coalition platforms.” It argued that the pattern suggests political calculations rather than genuine criminal investigations.
Particular attention was drawn to the case of Nasir el-Rufai. The group said investigations linked to his time in office have been ongoing for more than two years. It claimed that despite prolonged scrutiny, no personal wrongdoing has been established against him, raising concerns about the true motive behind a possible arrest.
The statement alleged that the broader strategy includes selective arrests, prolonged detentions without formal charges, and pressure on politically exposed persons to defect to the ruling party.
It also accused authorities of disrupting lawful opposition meetings, encouraging internal divisions within opposition parties, and using extended court cases to drain opposition resources.
“These actions, if carried out, would constitute grave violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), including breaches of the rights to personal liberty, freedom of association and expression, equality before the law, and judicial independence,” the group warned.
It added that selective enforcement of the law based on political affiliation undermines the foundations of constitutional democracy.
The group called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely watch developments.
It warned that the country risks drifting into a system where democratic institutions exist only in form, while political power is sustained through coercion and selective justice.
