Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called for the immediate release of popular social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). Otse, who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 2, has been in their custody following allegations based on several petitions against him.
Atiku, in a statement posted on social media, condemned the arrest and ongoing detention of VDM, describing it as “a blatant abuse of power” by the government. He also criticized the detention of the outspoken critic without formal charges, calling it a violation of Otse’s constitutional rights and a sign of growing authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The former Vice President stressed that the arrest was part of a disturbing pattern of repression against those who speak out against the government, while political loyalists with corruption allegations go free. Atiku called for resistance against such state-sponsored repression, emphasizing that it threatens the country’s democracy.
Meanwhile, protests broke out in Abuja on Monday, with a group of youths marching from the EFCC headquarters to the location where VDM was reportedly arrested. The protesters called for his immediate release, holding placards demanding transparency and justice. They vowed to escalate their grievance by appealing to the Nigerian Human Rights Commission.
