Nigeria’s democratic foundations are facing a grave test as opposition leaders warn of a tightening political noose under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amid punishing economic realities and what they describe as a calculated push toward a de facto one-party state.
In a strongly worded press release, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused the ruling establishment of systematically weakening opposition platforms to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) standing “by default, not by merit,” despite widespread public discontent.
The statement notes that patriotic leaders, alarmed by the trajectory of governance, rallied early around the ADC as the nucleus of a credible national alternative—choosing resistance over silence to preserve pluralism and accountability.
According to the ADC, fresh attempts are now underway by actors aligned with the Presidency to destabilize the party from the outside, including “reckless prescriptions” about its internal democratic processes and its eventual choice of presidential flagbearer.
“The ADC is on a national rescue mission,” the party declared, placing Atiku Abubakar and other reform-minded patriots at the center of the effort. Any suggestion—overt or covert—that Atiku should “step aside,” the statement warned, would amount to “a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people.”
Reaffirming its commitment to openness, the ADC stressed that it will conduct a transparent, competitive process to select its standard-bearer, free from intimidation or blackmail by external meddlers. “APC proxies have no standing to sabotage our democratic resolve,” the release added.
For now, the party says its priority is grassroots consolidation—building strong ward, local government, and state structures nationwide—urging disruptors and infiltrators to allow this essential work to proceed without interference.
The ADC also emphasized its openness to all genuine opposition figures, describing inclusiveness—not coercion—as the soul of democracy. “When the time comes, all qualified aspirants will present themselves freely. No one is stepping down,” the statement said pointedly, adding that if anyone should step aside, “it is President Tinubu—whose leadership has become a national liability.”
Tensions escalated following the public declaration of ADC membership by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in Enugu, described as the political heartbeat of the Southeast. The move, the ADC said, triggered open boasts by a serving minister and presidential aides about plans to undermine the party—an admission it interprets as fear of a growing opposition surge.
The message closed with defiance: no amount of intimidation, intrigue, or sabotage will derail what the ADC calls its rescue mission. “Nigeria will not surrender its democracy without a fight.”
Press Release Signed by Paul Ibe Atiku Media Office
Abuja
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