ADC accuses Tinubu government of looking for an excuse to crack down on coalition
ADC accuses Tinubu government of looking for an excuse to crack down on coalition
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of attempting to silence legitimate opposition under the pretext of safeguarding national security. This comes in response to recent remarks made by a presidential aide.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the ADC insisted it had no intention of undermining the nation’s democracy, stressing that its focus remains on rescuing Nigeria from what it called the “irredeemable incompetence” of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern over what he described as the APC’s increasing hostility toward dissenting voices, questioning the ruling party’s unease with opposition politics.
His comments were in reaction to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who claimed that certain political actors were “banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused, most transformative in our history.”
In its response, the ADC dismissed Onanuga’s post as “irresponsible and defamatory,” warning that such rhetoric could be used as a pretext for a wider clampdown on opposition leaders and voices critical of the government.
“Bayo Onanuga’s tweet is a textbook example of a political dog whistle,” the ADC stated. “The APC-led Federal Government appears to be constructing a false narrative designed to justify a potential crackdown on dissent and to criminalise legitimate opposition activities under the guise of protecting national security.”
Reaffirming its democratic credentials, the party said, “The ADC is not interested in truncating democracy.
We are solely committed to saving the nation from the irredeemable incompetence of this government. And the only means available to us is the democratic means.
“We are not soldiers; we are politicians. We don’t have bullets—only ballots. When the time comes, we will present our solutions and an alternative vision of the future to the Nigerian people and leave them to make their choice.”
Abdullahi also accused the APC of forgetting its own roots as a former opposition party, adding, “It is a great wonder that the same party, which came to power as an opposition force, now appears to find the idea of opposition unacceptable.”
The ADC therefore called on President Tinubu to rein in his aides, particularly those making what it described as “baseless but dangerous allegations that risk heating up the polity two years before the next general election.”
“This manner of crying wolf where there is none does not make the president look good and only betrays a sense of panic,” the party added.
Urging citizens to remain alert, the ADC warned of covert attempts to delegitimise the opposition and shrink democratic space.
“The health of our democracy depends on a free, open, and competitive political environment,” it noted.
The party also urged the international community — including democratic nations, human rights organisations, and election observers — to pay close attention to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
“We call on them to hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any actions that threaten democratic freedoms or infringe upon the political rights of Nigerian citizens.
The ADC remains dedicated to building a better Nigeria through peace, active participation, and the collective power of the people,” Abdullahi stated.
