Federal Government Denies Plot to Target Opposition, Calls Claims Misleading
The Federal Government has categorically rejected allegations that it has established a secret task force to arrest, detain or prosecute opposition political figures, dismissing such claims as fabricated and misleading. The denial was issued in a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Tuesday.
The controversy stems from a viral document circulating online purporting the creation of a multi-agency programme dubbed “ADP4VIP”, an acronym for Arrest, Detain, Prosecute for Very Important Persons. According to the document, the alleged initiative would involve agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), operating under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Adviser to target prominent opposition figures without due process.
However, the Federal Government stated emphatically that no such programme or task force exists. Idris described the document as fictitious, asserting that the Tinubu administration has no plans to unlawfully pursue opposition leaders or use state mechanisms to suppress dissent.
The statement reiterated that the government’s attention remains on its core policy priorities, including implementing economic reforms, tackling insecurity, expanding trade opportunities and restoring investor confidence. It accused some opposition elements of attempting to misrepresent lawful accountability and anti-corruption work as political persecution.
In defending the Federal Government’s position, Idris underscored Nigeria’s constitutional protections, particularly Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association and assembly, noting that these rights are upheld by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, due process and the independence of institutions.
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, the minister warned Nigerians to be cautious of disinformation and fabricated narratives, stressing that misleading claims could intensify in the coming months and urging the public to reject political distortions.