You Should Be Scared Of Suffering Nigerians, ADC Tells Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that President Bola Tinubu should be afraid of a major defeat in 2027 because he would be contesting against millions of Nigerians who have faced unprecedented hardship under his government.

In a statement by the national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party made the remark in reaction to a statement by the president that he was not scared of the opposition, whom he mocked as holding its convention on the streets.

The party described the remarks as unpresidential, saying with his utterances, the president appeared preoccupied with politics even as majority of Nigerians sink deeper into poverty and are left helpless in the hands of insurgents and kidnappers.

Reacting to the president’s comments, the ADC said, “What Nigerians saw was not the confidence of a leader in control. It was the anxiety of a president increasingly disconnected from the reality of hardship, insecurity, and frustration facing millions of citizens.

“At a time when families are battling a historic cost of living crisis, food inflation, rising debt burdens and collapsing purchasing power, the president chose to mock the opposition instead of addressing the suffering of Nigerians.”

The ADC spokesman added that while the president spoke, reports of children being abducted from examination centres were circulating.

“This is the reality of today’s Nigeria, insecurity spreading deeper into everyday life while government appears distracted,” the party said.

Abdullahi cautioned the president against ridiculing the opposition, adding that he should be deeply concerned that the majority of Nigerians have rejected his government, whose ill-conceived policies have ruined lives and destroyed livelihoods.

“These are the reasons he should be scared, because the people are determined to vote him out.

“We also reject the false narrative around the ADC National Convention. We did not hold our convention on the street. If that was the story supplied to the President by agents of disruption, then he has been misinformed.

“But even if any opposition party were forced to gather outside established venues, Nigerians would understand why. Under this administration, democratic space has shrunk significantly.

“No government before now had denied political parties fair access to public venues such as Eagle Square, a national civic ground that belongs to all Nigerians, not to any ruling party,” he said.

The ADC said President Tinubu also cannot preach separation of powers while simultaneously assuming the role of interpreter of the law, political referee, and commentator on judicial matters.

He added that Tinubu cannot be a President and a judge at the same time.

“If this administration truly respected separation of powers, Nigerians would not have witnessed the repeated weakening and humiliation of institutions meant to serve as checks and balances. The legislature, in particular, has too often appeared reduced to an extension of executive convenience.”

The ADC further said it noted the President’s recent attempt to ingratiate himself with the supporters of late President Muhammadu Buhari after years of distancing himself from the late President and denigrating his record, blaming him for every failure of his government.

The party described the move as hypocritical adding that the sudden U-turn is because of the coming election but that it is too late.

“The issue before the country today is simple: hardship is rising, insecurity is worsening, debt is mounting, and hope is fading. No amount of political theatre can hide that truth.

“The ADC remains focused on building a credible alternative anchored on competence, security, prosperity, and democratic freedom. Nigerians deserve better than excuses, propaganda, and power games,” he said.