The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging plans to unlawfully arrest, detain or prosecute opposition figures, describing the claims as fabricated and deliberately misleading.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government said a document circulating online, which alleges the creation of a multi-agency task force targeting opposition politicians, is false and does not exist.
The document reportedly claims that a programme tagged “ADP4VIP” — meaning Arrest, Detain, Prosecute for Very Important Persons — had been established to target prominent opposition figures, particularly members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), without due process.
Idris said the alleged programme and task force, which the document claims comprises the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Adviser, are fictitious.
“There is no such programme as ‘ADP4VIP,’” the minister stated, adding that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on economic reforms, tackling insecurity, expanding trade opportunities and restoring investor confidence.
The Federal Government accused some opposition elements of attempting to portray lawful accountability as political persecution in order to evade scrutiny by law enforcement agencies.
According to the statement, framing anti-corruption efforts as political targeting is “a dangerous red herring designed to shield so-called VIPs from answering to our national laws.”
The government reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional democracy, rule of law and due process, noting that Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees Nigerians the right to freely associate and engage in political activities.
Idris said President Tinubu, whom he described as a committed democrat, had sworn to uphold the Constitution and its protections, including freedom of association and religion.
He stressed that law enforcement and judicial institutions operate independently and are mandated to carry out their responsibilities professionally and in the national interest, without political interference.
The minister warned Nigerians to be cautious of disinformation, misinformation and fake news, particularly as the 2027 general elections draw closer, noting that fabricated narratives and political blackmail were likely to increase.
He urged citizens to remain vigilant and reject what he described as “the politics of distortion and division,” while assuring that the government would not be distracted from delivering continuity, progress and tangible results for Nigerians.
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