The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of displaying intolerance towards opposition voices, following remarks made by the President during the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
President Tinubu, addressing party members at the NEC gathering, dismissed the opposition alliance led by the ADC as a “coalition of confusion,” prompting swift condemnation from the ADC and allied political groups.
Responding, the ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the President’s statement was an indication that the ruling party felt threatened by the growing strength of the opposition. “What exactly is there to address? How can the president of a democratic country speak of the opposition in such a way? It says a lot,” Abdullahi remarked.
Tinubu’s veiled criticism appeared targeted at a coalition that includes key opposition figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, both of whom have reportedly expressed support for the ADC-led platform. “It’s not a bad idea to abandon a sinking ship and be absent from a coalition of confusion,” Tinubu had said, seemingly encouraging defections to the APC.
In a more pointed reaction, Abdullahi described the APC’s rhetoric as “a clear sign of political discomfort,” adding that the ruling party was rattled by the ADC’s rise. “They are unsettled, even angry, about the ADC’s rise—a party determined to stop their mission of turning Nigeria into a one-party state,” he stated.
The Conference of United Political Parties (CUPP) also joined the criticism, describing Tinubu’s remarks as politically defensive. CUPP’s National Secretary, Peter Ameh, said, “Mr. President’s comment is a sign of political anxiety masked as confidence. His superficial display of strength should not be taken seriously.”
Ameh dismissed recent defections to the APC as politically inconsequential. “Those switching sides lack significant value and merely rode on the popularity of opposition figures to win elections. They do not bolster Tinubu’s reelection prospects,” he said.
He further warned that economic hardship under the Tinubu administration could become a major liability for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. “It is clear the President stands on sinking ground,” Ameh said. “Poor economic management is paving the way for defeat.”
Calls for Competence Over Ethnicity
Meanwhile, former presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim weighed in on Nigeria’s political future, cautioning against ethnic or regional considerations in choosing the next president.
In a statement, he denounced what he described as “manipulation of religion and ethnicity by corrupt political opportunists.” He said, “Nigeria does not need a southern or northern president. What we need is a good president—competent, patriotic, and visionary.”
He cited historical and recent examples where Nigerians chose candidates outside ethnic lines. “In 1993, Kano rejected their own son Bashir Tofa for M.K.O. Abiola. In Lagos, voters rejected the incumbent president. In Gboko, a Christian constituency elected a Kanuri Muslim,” he recalled.
Olawepo-Hashim called for all political parties to prioritise competence, credibility, and character in fielding candidates. “The time for political shenanigans is over,” he said. “Nigerians deserve a decent country managed by decent people.”
Northern Bloc Plans Strategy Meeting Amid APC Tensions
In a related development, political manoeuvres in the North are intensifying amid reports that President Tinubu is considering Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as a replacement for APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
This has prompted the National Political Consultative Group (NPCG – North) to convene a meeting aimed at strengthening regional unity ahead of 2027. The meeting, according to a memo sighted by The Guardian, will review the APC’s revised zoning formula and plan a coordinated political strategy.
The NPCG also intends to deepen the integration of the ADC as the preferred coalition platform for the North, with 50 delegates from each state expected to participate.
A former senator, speaking anonymously, noted that the gathering could serve as a model for similar unity moves in the South. “Uniting northern politicians is a strategy that will soon be replicated in the South-East,” he disclosed.
The venue, initially announced as the Abuja Continental Hotel, may be changed, with final details to be confirmed only to accredited attendees.
As political realignments continue and tensions rise within both the ruling and opposition camps, analysts believe the build-up to the 2027 elections may redefine the structure of power in Nigeria’s democracy.
