Democracy Day: ADC Says Tinubu Government Has Failed Nigerians

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has used Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day celebration to launch a scathing critique of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, arguing that democracy can no longer be measured merely by the passage of years since military rule but by the quality of life and freedoms enjoyed by citizens.

In an open letter to Nigerians titled “When Is Democracy?”, the opposition party said the country must move beyond commemorating June 12 as a historical milestone and instead confront the realities of widespread insecurity, economic hardship, youth unemployment, and declining public confidence in democratic institutions.

The statement, signed by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, acknowledged the sacrifices of pro-democracy activists who fought for the restoration of civil rule but questioned whether the dividends of democracy were being felt by ordinary Nigerians.

“June 12 remains one of the most important dates in our national history—a reminder that the Nigerian people have always believed that their voices matter, that their votes should count, and that government must ultimately derive its legitimacy from the consent and confidence of the governed,” the party stated.

However, the ADC argued that Democracy Day should serve as an opportunity for national reflection rather than celebration alone.

“Our Democracy Day must be more than a celebration of the past. It must also be an honest reckoning with the present.

“Democracy is not measured by the number of years since military rule ended. It must be measured by the meaning it has brought to citizenship and the freedoms it has brought to citizens—freedom from fear, freedom from poverty, freedom to participate and freedom to choose,” the party said.

The party posed a series of questions to Nigerians, asking whether their lives had improved under the current administration

“Twenty-seven years after the return to democratic rule, and three years into the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, we ask you these simple questions: Is your life better today than in the past? Do you feel safer today than you felt in the past? Do you trust the government more than before?

“The answer to these questions is no doubt painfully clear: a resounding no.”

According to the ADC, insecurity remains one of the most glaring indicators of democratic failure, with many communities across the country living under constant threat from bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminal groups.

“Every single day, Nigerians are killed in their dozens and kidnapped in their hundreds. Bandits and other criminal elements openly negotiate for ransoms and set the terms of co-existence,” the statement read.

“The most important job of a government is to protect the citizens. But is there any one of you today who believes that this government can protect anybody?”

The party said the consequences of insecurity have become visible across the country, forcing entire communities to abandon their homes and disrupting educational activities.

“This is why entire villages are deserted. This is why schools are hurriedly shut and children withdrawn even in the middle of examinations. Government is getting weaker; criminals are getting stronger.”

Beyond insecurity, the ADC accused the federal government of failing to cushion the impact of economic reforms on ordinary citizens.

The party said soaring prices of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education have pushed millions of Nigerians into hardship.

“The prices of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education have risen beyond the reach of millions of ordinary citizens. Workers watch their incomes lose value. Small businesses struggle to survive.”

It noted that many households now face impossible choices between feeding their families, paying school fees, and meeting other basic needs.

The ADC also expressed concern over growing youth unemployment and migration trends, arguing that many young Nigerians no longer see a future in the country.

“Our young people, who should be the engine of national renewal and economic growth, increasingly confront a future defined by uncertainty.

“Many cannot find meaningful employment. Many others no longer see a future for themselves within our borders. A generation that should be building Nigeria is increasingly searching for opportunities elsewhere.”

The opposition party warned that public trust in democratic institutions was steadily declining.

“Perhaps most troubling of all, public confidence in our democratic institutions continues to erode.

“Increasingly, Nigerians question whether government listens, whether institutions serve the public interest, and whether democracy is delivering on its most basic promise: that the people should have both a voice and a stake in the future of their country.”

The ADC insisted that these concerns were not partisan criticisms but reflections of the realities confronting Nigerians.

“These are not opposition talking points. They are the concerns of a nation that is demanding not excuses, but answers; not propaganda, but performance; not promises, but progress.”

The party directly blamed the APC-led government for many of the country’s current challenges, arguing that insecurity, poverty and institutional weakness were products of poor governance.

“We believe that all the afflictions that we face as a people are direct manifestations of the affliction that the ruling party represents.

“Insecurity reflects their incompetence and indifference. Growing poverty reflects their wrong-headed economic policy that celebrates statistics but remains indifferent to human suffering. Weak institutions reflect their brazen lack of accountability and wanton disrespect for the rule of law.”

The ADC further accused government officials of asking citizens to endure hardship while enjoying extravagant lifestyles.

“The ruling party would tell you that you should endure, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. But they continue to live the life of obscene luxury and excesses.

“They ask you to give them the opportunity to do more. But what they are not telling you is that they are only asking for the opportunity to do more damage.”

While criticizing the government, the ADC sought to position itself as a viable alternative, insisting that Nigeria’s challenges were neither inevitable nor insurmountable.

“The African Democratic Congress says there are alternatives. We insist that this insecurity, fear and poverty are not inevitable or insurmountable.”

The party proposed a security strategy anchored on intelligence gathering, technology, local participation and stronger coordination among agencies.

“Our party’s policy framework recognises that security must be intelligence-led, technology-enabled, community-informed and locally responsive.”

The ADC advocated greater roles for state and local authorities in security management, improved intelligence gathering and stronger protection for farming communities, schools, transportation corridors and critical infrastructure.

“Security spending must be judged not by how much money is appropriated, but by whether citizens are safer,” it stated.

“The measure of success is whether a farmer can return safely to his farm, whether a trader can travel without fear, whether parents can send their children to school without anxiety.”

On the economy, the party argued that reforms should focus on improving living standards rather than merely achieving positive macroeconomic indicators.

“Nigerians do not live inside economic reports and global economic ratings. Economic growth means little if citizens do not feel its benefits.”

The ADC promised that, if given the opportunity to govern, it would prioritize reducing the cost of energy, cutting waste in government, simplifying taxation, supporting small businesses and protecting low-income earners.

“We believe that economic reform must be humane. That is why we will bring down the cost of energy and put more money in people’s pockets.”

The party also pledged to prioritize food security through expanded mechanisation, improved irrigation infrastructure, strengthened food reserves and measures aimed at reducing food inflation.

The ADC concluded by calling for a democracy built on accountability, transparency and measurable outcomes rather than rhetoric.

“We believe that government should once again be judged by results. Not by headlines. Not by speeches. Not by excuses.

“But by whether Nigerians are safer, whether Nigerians are more prosperous, and whether Nigerians can once again believe that their country is moving in the right direction.”

The party said its vision was anchored on a simple principle:“government must work for the people.”