The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he should be terrified ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that his real opponent is not the opposition but the millions of Nigerians suffering under his government.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdulahi, the ADC described the President’s recent mockery of opposition parties as “unpresidential,” saying his comments revealed anxiety rather than the confidence of a leader in control.
The party was reacting to remarks by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where he said he was not scared of the opposition and mocked the ADC for allegedly holding its convention on the street.
But the ADC fired back, arguing that the President has misread the mood of the nation.
“What Nigerians saw was not the confidence of a leader in control. It was the anxiety of a President increasingly disconnected from the reality of hardship, insecurity, and frustration facing millions of citizens,” the party said in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
The ADC accused the President of being preoccupied with politics while ordinary Nigerians struggle to survive.
“At a time when families are battling a historic cost of living crisis, food inflation, rising debt burdens, and collapsing purchasing power, the President chose to mock the opposition instead of addressing the suffering of Nigerians,” the statement read.
The party pointed to a grim reality that unfolded even as the President spoke.
“Even as he spoke, reports of children being abducted from examination centres were circulating. This is the reality of today’s Nigeria — insecurity spreading deeper into everyday life while government appears distracted,” the ADC said.
According to the party, President Tinubu has every reason to be frightened ahead of 2027.
“The President should not be ridiculing the opposition. He should be deeply concerned that the majority of Nigerians have rejected his government, whose ill-conceived policies have ruined lives and destroyed livelihoods. These are the reasons he should be scared, because the people are determined to vote him out.”
The ADC also rejected what it called the “false narrative” around its national convention.
“We did not hold our convention on the street. If that was the story supplied to the President by agents of disruption, then he has been misinformed,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party used the opportunity to accuse the Tinubu administration of shrinking democratic space, noting that no government before now had denied opposition parties fair access to public venues like Eagle Square.
“But even if any opposition party were forced to gather outside established venues, Nigerians would understand why. Under this administration, democratic space has shrunk significantly,” the statement added.
The ADC further took issue with the President’s comments on separation of powers, accusing him of trying to be “President and a judge at the same time.”
“The President also cannot preach separation of powers while simultaneously assuming the role of interpreter of the law, political referee, and commentator on judicial matters,” the party said.
The ADC also dismissed what it described as the President’s recent attempt to court supporters of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
“After years of distancing himself from the late President and denigrating his record, blaming him for every failure of his government, it is hypocritical to suddenly make a U-turn because of the coming election. It is too late,” the party said.
Concluding, the ADC said the issues before Nigeria are simple and cannot be hidden by political theatre.
“The issue before the country today is simple: hardship is rising, insecurity is worsening, debt is mounting, and hope is fading. No amount of political theatre can hide that truth,” the statement read.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to building a credible alternative anchored on competence, security, prosperity, and democratic freedom, adding that Nigerians “deserve better than excuses, propaganda, and power games.”
Discussion about this post