The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has categorically rejected claims of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, insisting that any change in leadership will be achieved strictly through democratic means.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised what he called reckless and unsubstantiated allegations made by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Onanuga had alleged that the opposition was orchestrating a plan to topple the Tinubu administration.
Responding to the accusation, Abdullahi dismissed the notion as “a deliberate falsehood” aimed at justifying potential repression of opposition voices. He said such rhetoric could pave the way for a systematic clampdown on political opponents, warning that the comments from the presidential aide were not only dangerous but indicative of a government intolerant of dissent.
“The ADC condemns the tweet made by an aide of President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, which alleges that the opposition is planning to overthrow the Tinubu government before 2027, If anything, it potentially lays the grounds for systematic clampdown on opposition leaders,” the statement read.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to democratic principles, Abdullahi stated: “The ADC is not interested in truncating democracy; we are solely committed to saving the nation from the irredeemable incompetence of this government. We are not soldiers; we are politicians. We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots.”
He added that the party intends to present its policy alternatives and vision for the future to the Nigerian people at the appropriate time, trusting that the electorate will make an informed decision at the ballot box.
Onanuga had earlier accused a coalition of opposition parties of forming an alliance with the intention of destabilising the government, a claim that has drawn widespread criticism from political commentators and civil society groups who argue it could incite state action against political opponents.
Abdullahi maintained that the ADC would continue to speak out against what he described as the administration’s “gross mismanagement and lack of direction,” but only within the confines of democratic engagement and constitutional order.
The ADC’s rebuttal underscores growing political tensions in Nigeria, as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political analysts say the next few months will be crucial in shaping the nature of the country’s democratic discourse.
For now, the ADC insists that its mission remains firmly rooted in peaceful political change, and it has vowed to challenge President Tinubu not with force, but with ideas and the will of the people.
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