Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has totally condemned the arrest of five men in Borno State over wearing of white T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go ” and demands immediate release.
In a statement released on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, by his campaign’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the reported arrests raise serious questions about the right to freedom of expression in a democracy.
The former Vice President questioned how wearing a T-shirt carrying such a message could be considered a criminal act, pointing to the harsh economic realities facing ordinary citizens today.
“Tinubu opposed Jonathan’s fuel policy in the streets. Nigerians are living with the consequences of Tinubu’s fuel policy in their homes,” Atiku stated. “Parents are cutting meals. Workers can scarcely afford the journey to work. Families are being crushed by bills that rise faster than their income. And when citizens put their anger on a T-shirt, the response is reportedly an arrest. What kind of democracy grants its President the right to protest, then takes that right away from everyone else?”
The statement, titled “TINUBU, YOU PROTESTED JONATHAN’S FUEL PRICES. RELEASE THE FIVE YOUNG NIGERIANS REPORTEDLY ARRESTED OVER ‘TINUBU MUST GO’ T-SHIRTS,” drew a sharp contrast between past and present political realities.
Atiku recalled that President Bola Tinubu had previously opposed aspects of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, including fuel pricing policies, while ordinary citizens were protesting those same policies. He stressed that the phrase “Tinubu Must Go” should be regarded as a political expression rather than a threat or a crime.
SEE ALSO: Borno State Police Arrest Five Men Over Printing and Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts
“’Tinubu Must Go’ is a demand for political change. It is not a weapon, a threat or a crime,” Atiku explained. “President Tinubu can disagree with those words. He can campaign against them. He cannot make people disappear into custody for wearing them.”
He further called on the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the five detainees and grant them immediate access to their families and lawyers.
“Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them. Release these five citizens now,” he demanded, adding, “What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!”
This political intervention comes just a day after the Borno State Police Command arrested and charged the five men, identifying them as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio, and Abdulhamid Mohammed.
The police First Information Report alleged that the men conspired to print and wear the shirts with the intention of causing a disturbance in the West End Roundabout community in Maiduguri. They were charged under sections of the Borno State Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and thuggery.
Sources had earlier alleged that the arrests followed a direct directive from Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to the state Commissioner of Police.
As the debate over free speech intensifies, Atiku’s statement underscores the growing tension between political mobilization and the limits of dissent in the country. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the handling of this case will likely remain a flashpoint for discussions on civil liberties and the rule of law.
Promise Idoko is Junior Reporter working with moderncrux He covers global politics and international affairs. Based in Nigeria,
