The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of plotting a systematic clampdown on opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC and the Opposition Coalition, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, raised the alarm following a controversial tweet by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga, in a post shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, accused critics of President Tinubu’s administration of scheming to unseat the government. His tweet partly read:
“Just two years after Tinubu began implementing the reforms, the haters of Nigeria’s progress are banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused, most transformative in our history.”
The ADC described Onanuga’s statement as “reckless, malicious, and a dangerous political dog whistle,” suggesting that it could be part of a coordinated campaign to intimidate opposition voices and stifle dissent in the lead-up to the next general election.
According to Abdullahi, “This tweet signals a broader campaign of intimidation and repression against political opposition leaders by the Tinubu administration.
The APC-led government appears to be constructing a false narrative to justify a potential crackdown under the guise of national security.”
He emphasized that the ADC is committed to democratic change through ballots, not violence. “We are not soldiers, we are politicians. We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots,” Abdullahi stated.
He criticized the ruling party for appearing jittery over legitimate opposition activities, reminding Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress itself was once an opposition party. “It is a great wonder that the same party now finds it strange that there is an opposition at all,” he remarked.
The ADC called on President Tinubu to rein in his aides from making baseless and inflammatory claims, which it says have the potential to destabilize the political environment and damage Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“Crying wolf when there is none does not make the president look good. It only betrays a sense of panic,” Abdullahi added.
The party also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist efforts to delegitimize opposition voices, stating that “the health of our democracy depends on a free, open, and competitive political environment.”
In a final plea, the ADC called on the international community, democratic governments, and human rights organizations to monitor Nigeria’s political climate and hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any actions that infringe upon the political rights and freedoms of Nigerian citizens.
“The ADC remains committed to building a better Nigeria through peace, participation, and the power of the people,” the statement concluded.
