ADC accuses Tinubu of plot to silence opposition voices nationwide under guise of security clampdown, warns against criminalising dissent two years to elections
ADC accuses Tinubu of plot to criminalise opposition activity and shrink democratic space under the guise of protecting national security, warning that such tactics represent a dangerous trend in Nigeria’s political trajectory.
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In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, the African Democratic Congress said it was disturbed by recent comments from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, who alleged that some political figures were plotting to overthrow the government.
The ADC described Onanuga’s claims as “irresponsible and defamatory,” noting that they could serve as a pretext for state-sponsored repression.
“Bayo Onanuga’s tweet is a textbook example of a political dog whistle,” said Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s interim National Publicity Secretary.
“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.”
ADC accuses APC of plot to delegitimise its efforts and silence alternative voices ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the government’s approach as “panicked and desperate.”
“We are not interested in truncating democracy,” Abdullahi said. “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.”
He stressed that the ADC’s mandate was strictly political and democratic, not subversive.
“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,” he added.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political history, the party criticised the APC for abandoning its own roots as a former opposition party.
“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.”
ADC accuses APC of plot to shrink the political space and warned that if left unchecked, such posturing could escalate into full-blown repression.
The party 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 statement read.
Abdullahi urged citizens to remain vigilant, saying the health of Nigeria’s democracy depends on an open, competitive, and tolerant political environment.
“Democracy is not just about voting. It is about the right to organise, to campaign, and to challenge power peacefully and constructively,” he said.
The ADC also appealed to the international community—including democratic governments, rights groups, and election observers—to closely monitor political developments in Nigeria and hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any violations of civic or political freedoms.
“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,” Abdullahi said.
ADC accuses APC of plot not only to suppress the opposition but to delegitimise public dissent through state propaganda, and reaffirmed its resolve to offer Nigerians a credible alternative through peaceful and democratic means.
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“The ADC remains committed to building a better Nigeria—through peace, participation, and the power of the people,” the statement concluded.
