The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of orchestrating a “calculated attempt” to stifle political opposition under the guise of national security, following inflammatory remarks made by a presidential aide.
In a trenchant statement on Wednesday, the party dismissed recent claims by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, as “irresponsible and defamatory,” warning that such rhetoric may signal a prelude to broader repression of dissent.
Onanuga, writing on X (formerly Twitter), alleged that unnamed political actors were “banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused and most transformative in our history.” The ADC said the comments amounted to a “political dog whistle” that could be weaponised to delegitimise critics and narrow democratic space.
“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,” said Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s interim National Publicity Secretary.
Firmly denying any intention to subvert the constitutional order, Abdullahi said the ADC remained “committed to saving the nation from the irredeemable incompetence of this government” solely through democratic means.
“We are not soldiers; we are politicians. We don’t have bullets—only ballots,” he said. “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.”
The party also took aim at what it described as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s “growing hostility toward dissenting voices,” accusing the ruling party of forgetting its own origins as an opposition movement.
“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,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC urged President Tinubu to rein in aides making what it described as “baseless but dangerous allegations,” warning that such remarks only inflame tensions in an already fragile polity.
“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 said, adding that the democratic health of Nigeria depends on “a free, open, and competitive political environment.”
The statement ended with an appeal to the international community—including foreign governments, human rights bodies, and election observers—to keep a watchful eye on the country’s political trajectory.
“We call on them to hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any actions that undermine democratic freedoms or violate the political rights of Nigerian citizens,” the party said. “The ADC remains committed to building a better Nigeria—through peace, participation, and the power of the people.”
