ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over what it described as a coordinated plan by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to use the judiciary to stall the party’s growing momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Interim National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, issued the warning during a meeting with the party’s National Legal Support Group, led by Abdullahi Abdurrahman, in Abuja. The party also questioned President Tinubu’s unexplained absence from the country five days after the conclusion of the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During the meeting, Abdurrahman revealed that more than 300 lawyers had volunteered to defend the ADC in ongoing and future legal matters across Nigeria. He said the legal team is now fully operational and represented in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“We are prepared to handle any case that may arise against ADC anywhere in the country,” Abdurrahman declared, adding that the legal volunteers were motivated by confidence in the party’s leadership and its vision for national transformation.
Notable members of the legal team include the party’s Legal Adviser, Peter Oyewole; former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN); and former Edo State Governor and law professor, Oserheimen Osunbor.
Abdurrahman also urged David Mark to deploy his statesmanship and political experience to guide the ADC through what he described as “a critical period in its national evolution.” He requested timely legal documentation and updates from the party’s leadership to ensure the legal team works effectively.
Meanwhile, the ADC, in a separate statement signed by Interim National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, condemned President Tinubu’s delay in returning from the BRICS Summit. The party said the President’s extended stay abroad, without official explanation, reflects a deepening culture of unaccountability.
The statement read, “A whole five days is significant in the life of a nation, especially one grappling with widespread insecurity and a faltering economy. Tinubu was not on a private vacation; he was on official duty. Nigerians deserve to know why he delayed his return and where he has been.”
The party accused the President of repeating a troubling pattern of unexplained absences since assuming office. It cited a two-week “private visit” to France in January 2024 and a nine-day disappearance following the World Economic Forum in Riyadh earlier this year.
The ADC expressed concern that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to either justify or ignore these lapses, describing them as “a clear contempt for the Nigerian people and the democratic process.”
It called on Nigerians and the international community to hold the Tinubu administration accountable, stressing that transparency and public trust are essential for the survival of democracy.
“The presidency must never be treated as a private estate. Governance demands accountability, and Nigerians must insist on it,” the party stated.
