The African Democratic Congress has firmly rejected allegations that it seeks to undermine Nigeria’s democratic system, asserting its commitment to securing power through legitimate electoral means.
The party’s position came in response to claims made by Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga regarding opposition plans to unseat President Bola Tinubu before 2027.
In a Thursday statement issued in Abuja, ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi dismissed Onanuga’s assertions as unfounded. “We are not soldiers, we are politicians. We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots,” Abdullahi stated. “When the time comes, we will only present our solutions and an alternative vision of the future to the Nigerian people and leave them to make their choice.”
The ADC spokesman expressed bewilderment at the ruling party’s stance, noting: “We wonder why the APC, the first opposition party to come to power in Nigeria now appears to find it strange that there is an opposition at all.” He characterized the allegations as “a baseless and false narrative aimed at clamping down on opposition leaders and activities under the guise of national security.”
Abdullahi called on President Tinubu to restrain his aides from making inflammatory statements that could destabilize the political climate years before the next election. He urged Nigerians to “reject any underhand tactics to discredit the opposition and silence alternative voices,” emphasizing that “the health of Nigeria’s democracy depends on a free, open, and competitive political environment.”
The ADC reaffirmed its dedication to democratic principles, stating its mission focuses on “building a better Nigeria through peace and democratic participation” rather than unconstitutional power grabs.
