Tinubu faces backlash over presidential pardon granted to drug offenders
Tinubu faces backlash over presidential pardon granted to drug offenders
Opposition parties and prominent political figures, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardons to several convicted criminals, among them drug traffickers. They described the action as a serious setback to Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts and a troubling affront to justice and morality.
On Saturday, the Presidency released a comprehensive list of 175 individuals granted the 2025 presidential pardon. The list included the late nationalist Herbert Macaulay, the late Major General Mamman Vatsa, and Maryam Sanda, who had been sentenced to death for the murder of her husband.
The clemency, which extended to over 30 convicted drug offenders as well as individuals imprisoned for crimes such as homicide, fraud, and illegal mining, has triggered widespread outrage and national debate.
In a statement on Sunday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi condemned the decision, calling it “pathetic and a national disgrace.” He argued that the move undermines the country’s fight against drug abuse, emboldens criminal behaviour, and tarnishes Nigeria’s global image.
“The African Democratic Congress finds as pathetic and an act of immense national disgrace the recent presidential pardon and clemency granted to several convicted criminals by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.
“It amounts to a most irresponsible abuse of the presidential power of prerogative of mercy to grant express pardon to dozens of convicts held for drug trafficking, smuggling, and related offences—especially when most of these convicts have barely served two years in jail for crimes that attract life imprisonment.”
The party said the decision sends a disturbing message that remorse and token rehabilitation are now sufficient grounds for freedom, even for serious crimes.
“According to official statements, it appears that all it takes to get presidential clemency for even the worst of crimes in Nigeria—including drug trafficking, gun running, and murder—is to show remorse and learn skills,” ADC said.
It added that the purpose of pardon and clemency is to correct miscarriages of justice and reintegrate those who have genuinely paid their debt to society, not to excuse dangerous offenders.
“We wonder what Nigeria stands to gain from this act of clemency to convicts serving life sentences who have barely served two years.
“For years, NDLEA officers have risked life and limb to combat this problem,” the party said.
“Granting clemency to individuals convicted under such laws makes a mockery of their sacrifice and gives the world the impression that Nigeria, under President Tinubu, is sympathetic to drug dealers and a safe haven for traffickers.”
Also, Atiku said the pardon had “rightly sparked nationwide outrage.”
Atiku said while the presidential power of mercy is intended to balance justice with compassion, its misuse weakens confidence in the rule of law.
“Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite,” Atiku said. “Extending clemency to individuals convicted of grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption diminishes the sanctity of justice and sends a dangerous signal to both the public and the international community.”
He described the decision as “shocking and indefensible,” especially at a time when Nigeria is struggling with insecurity, moral decline, and an alarming rise in drug-related crimes.
“Particularly disturbing,” he noted, “is the revelation that 29.2 per cent of those granted pardon were convicted for drug-related offences — even as our young people are being ravaged by narcotics and our nation continues to battle the global stigma of drug offences.”
In a scathing reaction, Atiku Abubakar said the pardon represents a “moral irony,” citing unresolved concerns about President Tinubu’s past ties to a U.S. drug-related forfeiture case. He added that “it is therefore unsurprising that this administration continues to show leniency toward individuals linked to criminal activity.”
“A presidential pardon should stand for redemption and moral rehabilitation,” Atiku stated. “What we have seen instead is a ridicule of the justice system, an insult to victims, and a blow to the morale of law enforcement officers.
“Clemency must never be mistaken for complicity. When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it loses moral credibility and encourages impunity.”
Atiku urged a thorough review of the clemency process to promote transparency, fairness, and alignment with public interest, stressing that “Nigeria needs leaders who uphold justice, not those who compromise it.”
