Tinubu govt using national security as excuse to silence opposition – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm over what it describes as a deliberate attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to suppress opposition voices under the pretext of national security.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the ADC said it has no intention of destabilizing Nigeria’s democracy, but remains committed to rescuing the country from what it called the “irredeemable incompetence” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern over what he termed the ruling party’s increasing intolerance toward political dissent. He questioned why the APC appears threatened by legitimate opposition, warning that democracy cannot thrive when opposing voices are treated as threats to national security.

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His remarks followed a statement on X (formerly Twitter) by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who alleged that certain political figures 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 appealed to the international community, including democratic governments, human rights organisations, and election observers, to closely monitor the political climate in Nigeria.

“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 ADC remains committed to building a better Nigeria—through peace, participation, and the power of the people,” he said.