The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of dragging Nigeria into international irrelevance, citing the country’s exclusion from high-level U.S. trade talks as evidence of declining global influence under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said Nigeria’s absence from a three-day White House summit convened for selected African nations highlights a deepening diplomatic and economic failure.
“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria is no longer taken seriously,” the party stated, noting that while nations with far smaller economies were invited to the U.S. commercial dialogue, Nigeria — Africa’s largest economy — was left out.
The summit, aimed at exploring investment opportunities between the U.S. and African nations, featured presidents from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. The ADC said the selection criteria pointed to “leadership and demonstrable commitment to transparency and accountability” — areas in which it believes the APC government has failed.
“Only a few years ago, it would have been unthinkable that such a meeting would hold without Nigeria,” the statement read. “This only shows how low this administration has brought our country in the estimation of the world.”
The ADC also referenced recent tensions with the U.S. over Nigeria’s BRICS membership, highlighting threats of new tariffs from former President Donald Trump. The party said this underscores the consequences of a poorly managed foreign policy agenda.
According to the ADC, “The APC has not only stalled our economic progress, it has stripped us of the opportunity to sit at the table where real decisions and real investments that could create jobs and boost growth are being made.”
The party criticised President Tinubu’s prolonged visit to St. Lucia — a small Caribbean nation — while Nigeria was sidelined from key international platforms, calling the trip symbolic of misplaced priorities.
ADC Leadership Speaks on Party Direction
ADC’s Interim National Chairman, Senator David Mark, speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Kogi State chapter of the party, affirmed the party’s commitment to transparency and internal democracy. He denied claims that the party had a preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
“We are doing this because we do not want this great ship called Nigeria to sink,” Mark said. “We must bond together to build the party before we can talk of ambitions.”
Meanwhile, Mallam Salihu Lukman, a prominent figure in the new ADC coalition, dismissed speculation that the party’s structure would be handed over to popular aspirants like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, or Chibuike Amaechi. He emphasised that the coalition had undergone due diligence to ensure the integrity of the party’s structure and legal standing.
APC, FG React to ADC Claims
In response, the Federal Government dismissed the ADC’s statements as politically motivated. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the Tinubu administration remains focused on implementing reforms, despite distractions from opposition groups.
“In just two years, this vision has already begun yielding tangible results,” Idris said, citing efforts to curb crude oil theft, stabilise the naira, and provide support for citizens through student loans, CNG vehicle initiatives, and tax reforms.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) also fired back at the ADC, calling it a party “mortally wounded by confusion.” In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC denied allegations of interfering in ADC’s internal affairs, describing the opposition’s claims as “poorly imagined accusations.”
“There is no reason for Mr. President or APC to expend valuable time and energy trying to sow confusion within ADC,” Morka said. “The ADC needs no help from our great party to unravel.”
Morka further described the ADC’s leadership crisis as a “self-inflicted implosion” and likened its political future to that of “Humpty Dumpty,” incapable of being put back together again.
Despite the exchange of words, the ADC vowed to remain a viable alternative platform, with its legal support group announcing that over 90 lawyers were prepared to defend the party in ongoing litigations involving disputed leadership claims.
