- Safiu Kehinde
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s remark on the party’s national convention labelling it unpresidential and a show of anxiety ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
NPO Reported that Tinubu had at his inaugural meeting with the Renewed Hope Ambassadors made mockery of the David Mark-led ADC’s National Convention which was held earlier this week against court’s ruling and warning by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With INEC officials absent at the event held on Tuesday, Tinubu labelled the convention a street convention while reiterating that he remains unmoved by the opposition party’s antics against him.
Reacting in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the factional ADC accused the President of being preoccupied with politics even as the majority of Nigerians sink deeper into poverty and are left helpless in the hands of insurgents and kidnappers.
Abdullahi said Tinubu should be afraid of a major defeat in 2027 because he would be contesting against millions of Nigerians who have faced unprecedented hardship under his government.
“What Nigerians saw was not the confidence of a leader in control. It was the anxiety of a President increasingly disconnected from the reality of hardship, insecurity, and frustration facing millions of citizens.
“At a time when families are battling a historic cost of living crisis, food inflation, rising debt burdens, and collapsing purchasing power, the President chose to mock the opposition instead of addressing the suffering of Nigerians.
“However, even as he spoke, reports of children being abducted from examination centres were circulating.
“This is the reality of today’s Nigeria, insecurity spreading deeper into everyday life while government appears distracted.” He wrote.
The ADC spokesperson maintained that the President should rather be concerned about his impending defeat at the poll in 2027 than ridiculing opposition parties as it alleged that Nigerians are ready to vote him out.
“The President should not be ridiculing the opposition. He should be deeply concerned that the majority of Nigerians have rejected his government, whose ill-conceived policies have ruined lives and destroyed livelihoods.
“These are the reasons he should be scared, because the people are determined to vote him out.” He wrote.
Abdullahi declared the ADC’s rejection of Tinubu’s description of its convention as a street convention, stressing that the President was misinformed.
He maintained that the nature of the convention’s organisation is understandable to Nigerians.
Citing the rejection of the ADC’s request to use the Eagles Square for the convention, Abdullahi alleged that the current administration has shrunken democratic space against oppositions.
“We also reject the false narrative around the ADC National Convention. We did not hold our convention on the street.
“If that was the story supplied to the President by agents of disruption, then he has been misinformed.
“But even if any opposition party were forced to gather outside established venues, Nigerians would understand why.
“Under this administration, democratic space has shrunk significantly. No government before now had denied political parties fair access to public venues such as Eagle Square, a national civic ground that belongs to all Nigerians, not to any ruling party.” The ADC spokesperson said.
He further accused the President of assuming the role of a judge with his commentary over a judicial matter.
“The President also cannot preach separation of powers while simultaneously assuming the role of interpreter of the law, political referee, and commentator on judicial matters.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be a President and a judge at the same time.
“If this administration truly respected separation of powers, Nigerians would not have witnessed the repeated weakening and humiliation of institutions meant to serve as checks and balances.
“The legislature, in particular, has too often appeared reduced to an extension of executive convenience.” Abdullahi said.
On Tinubu’s claim of affiliation with his late predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, the ADC National Publicity Secretary labelled it an hyprocrisy as it accused the President of distancing himself from Buhari and blaming him for the challenges faced by his administration.
Abdullahi however reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to building a credible alternative for Nigerians.
“We also note the President’s recent attempt to ingratiate himself with the supporters of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
“After years of distancing himself from the late President and denigrating his record, blaming him for every failure of his government, it is hypocritical to suddenly make a U-turn because of the coming election. It is too late.
“The issue before the country today is simple: hardship is rising, insecurity is worsening, debt is mounting, and hope is fading. No amount of political theatre can hide that truth.
“The ADC remains focused on building a credible alternative anchored on competence, security, prosperity, and democratic freedom. Nigerians deserve better than excuses, propaganda, and power games.” He added.