Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that the strength of any democracy lies not in how comfortably those in power wield authority, but in how safely those outside power can exercise their constitutional rights.

Speaking on current political tensions, Atiku declared that “nothing must happen” to Labour Party’s Peter Obi, stressing the importance of protecting opposition figures. He also renewed his call for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai, framing both issues as tests of Nigeria’s democratic credibility.

The statement has added to growing concerns about democratic rights, the treatment of opposition leaders, and the state of constitutional freedoms in Nigeria amid heightened political tensions.