Nigerian political parties and leaders has articulated a firm position against the recent military threat made the United States President, Donald Trump, creating a stark contrast with the noted silence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakacollecti
The collective response came after Trump designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” and directed the US Department of War to prepare for “possible action.”
The African Democratic Congress issued a comprehensive statement responding to what it described as “the action taken by U.S. President Donald Trump on October 31, 2025, designating Nigeria as a country of particular concern.”
The party stated that “we are guided by the painful reality that what is really at stake on this issue are the thousands of human lives that have been lost to insecurity in Nigeria, irrespective of their tribe, religion, or region. We therefore seize this moment to pay tribute to the memory of all the victims and express our deepest sympathies to their families.”
The ADC acknowledged that “the statement by President Trump reminds us of the greater global concern about the sanctity of human life, and the cardinal responsibility of national governments to protect the lives of people who live within their borders. It reminds us that in the modern world, concern for human rights — for which right to life is the most fundamental — transcends national boundaries, and that the dignity and respect of nations are no longer measured by their economic strength alone, but also by their willingness and capacity to protect their own citizens.”
However, the party expressed strong opposition to military intervention, stating “we appreciate the American president and other world leaders for their concern about the security situation in our country. We will, however, urge that such concerns should be translated into supporting Nigeria to grow her democracy and develop its capacity to solve its own problems. We believe that mobilizing armed troops, or even a mere threat of doing so, would do more harm than good and ultimately prove counterproductive to our democratic aspiration and to the long-term unity and stability of our country.”
The Social Democratic Party echoed this position, with its National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba stating that “the SDP, as a national political party that promotes the true interest of Nigeria, is greatly worried by the prevailing discomfiting development and discourses that bother on seeming threats to the sovereignty of the country.” The party cautioned that such failures “should not become an excuse for foreign interference.”
Rather than military action, the SDP proposed that “if the United States is that concerned about the insecurity and killings in Nigeria, it should offer concrete military support and intelligence collaboration to Nigeria like it is doing to its other allies, including Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and others.” The party issued a stark warning that any US military or political incursion “could lead to disaster similar to what happened in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.” Aiyenigba emphasized that “President Trump or any other foreign leader cannot love Nigeria more than Nigerians love themselves,” adding that “History has shown that such so-called interventions end in sorrow, tears, and blood.”
Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso added his voice to the discussion, stating “I have noted with increasing concern the heightened pronouncements on Nigeria by President Donald Trump. This follows his designation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern.'” He emphasized that “it is important to emphasise that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country. The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs.”
Kwankwaso suggested that “the United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country.” He also advised that “the Nigerian government should also consider appointing special envoys from its distinguished diplomats to engage the American government. Additionally, it is necessary to appoint permanent ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests on the international stage.”
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the previous election, expressed that “the recent pronouncement by the US government declaring Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and indicating possible military action should give every well-meaning Nigerian serious concern.” While acknowledging Nigeria’s security challenges, Obi maintained that “as democracies, Nigeria and the US have long been strategic partners committed to regional peace and security. That relationship should not falter. The present situation calls for constructive diplomatic and any other plausible engagement by both nations aimed at addressing the prevailing and disturbing security concerns. Both countries must work in concert and expeditiously towards that purpose.”
The ADC’s statement also included substantial criticism of the current administration’s handling of security matters, noting that “it is sad to note that it is in this most sacred mandate of government that this administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed most.” The party cited that “available reports indicate that nearly 15,000 lives have been lost to sundry violent activities since this administration assumed office in 2023. These deaths have occurred across regions and religions, underlining a national crisis that cuts across all divides and still endangers us all, regardless of tribe, region, or religion.”
The party described a deteriorating security situation where “entire communities have been sacked, worshippers have been slaughtered in religious spaces, and bandits now control large territories in our country — waging war at will and levying taxes on citizens with impunity. Boko Haram, once declared as ‘technically degraded,’ is once again growing in strength, while another international terror group makes open claims of carrying out successful attacks on Nigerian soil.”
The ADC emphasized that “the crisis that we face is therefore not about any ethnic or religious group being targeted for killing; it is an existential crisis that imperils all Nigerians. Quite significantly, it is also not about which region or religion has lost more lives; it is about every individual’s right to life. Life and death are absolutes, and they must never be reduced to statistics. The ADC believes that one life lost that could have been saved is one death too many.”
While noting that “the problem of insecurity in Nigeria did not start with President Tinubu,” the ADC argued that “the problem is that President Tinubu has refused to acknowledge that the crisis has got worse under his watch and has refused to accept responsibility. Instead, Nigerians have been met with excuses, cruel silence, or utter indifference, and political posturing that mocks the tragedy of victims and their families.”
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