The newly revitalized opposition coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of entering a state of “panic mode” due to the mounting political pressure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, the ADC described the federal government’s recent push for reforms as a politically calculated move, not a sincere response to the country’s deepening socioeconomic challenges. The party accused the Tinubu administration of “calculated incompetence,” suggesting that the sudden wave of policy activity was driven by the emergence of a credible opposition front, rather than genuine governance.
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, said the government’s promises to remove bottlenecks to food security and boost agricultural exports were a thinly veiled confession of its prior indifference to the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
“When Bayo Onanuga tweeted that the government would now remove bottlenecks to food security, he wasn’t just announcing a policy shift—he was confessing. Confessing that the government deliberately allowed Nigerians to starve while doing nothing,” the statement read.
The ADC insisted that this sudden awakening by the government is rooted in fear—fear of a united opposition, fear of rising public discontent, and fear of losing power in 2027.
Obi: Tinubu’s Government Wasting Resources, Prioritising Luxury Over Lives
Meanwhile, former presidential candidate Peter Obi joined in the condemnation of the government, slamming the proposed purchase of a N150 billion presidential jet as a sign of misplaced priorities. Speaking on national television, Obi said a responsible leader should be ready to sacrifice for the people, especially when the country is gripped by hunger and poverty.
“If your people are dying, why should you have security in the air? If you crash, everybody dies there. That’s leadership—be ready to sacrifice,” Obi said.
He criticised the Tinubu administration’s removal of fuel subsidies without a clear and transparent plan to redirect the saved funds, accusing the government of borrowing recklessly for consumption rather than investment in critical infrastructure.
“Our debt has ballooned from N80 trillion to nearly N180 trillion in just two years. We have nothing to show for it,” he lamented.
Defections, Realignments Strengthen ADC
The ADC also gained momentum on the political front, as reports emerged that former Minister of Police Affairs, Hon. Adamu Maina Waziri, and several key members of the PDP in Yobe State have concluded plans to join the coalition. Although the PDP in Yobe issued a statement dismissing any structural collapse, it confirmed Waziri’s departure along with his loyalists.
In Benue State, the Labour Party structure in Ogbadibo Local Government Area formally dissolved into the ADC during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting, in what party leaders described as a “bold and strategic” decision to align with a more people-focused and transparent platform.
South-South Groups Clash Over ADC Support
In the South-South region, support for the ADC has triggered internal political divisions. While the South-South Coalition for Aregbesola threw its weight behind the former Minister of Interior and now ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the South-South Youth Amalgamation (SSYA) dismissed the coalition as a power-driven alliance lacking national vision.
Mr. Sunday Oleghe, convener of the pro-Aregbesola group, praised the former minister’s past achievements in education, infrastructure, and public service delivery, arguing that his experience could help reposition the party for national leadership.
However, SSYA’s chairman, John Carlkson, said the opposition coalition was driven by “inordinate ambition” rather than a coherent policy direction. “Nigeria’s future must be guided by the will of the people, not the political chess games of a few elite actors,” he stated.
ADC: 2027 Will Be Between APC and the Nigerian People
The ADC concluded its statement by calling on Nigerians to remain vigilant and not be deceived by “press releases and media stunts” by the Tinubu administration, claiming, “This is not governance. This is desperation.”
“The 2027 election will be a choice between the APC and the Nigerian people. And the people have had enough.”
