Opposition, Presidency In War Of Words Over Trump’s Commendation Letter

The commendation letter United States President, Donald Trump sent to President Bola Tinubu over his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks on Christian communities sparked a flurry of verbal battle between the opposition parties and the Presidency.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that Trump conveyed the commendation in a letter dated July 6, 2026.

“…I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities, and it is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” the letter read in parts.

The Presidency described the letter as evidence of the progress recorded by the Tinubu administration in its fight against terrorism, rather than a search for external validation.

However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissed the Presidency’s presentation of the letter from Trump to President Tinubu as an endorsement of the administration, insisting that it would not shield the President from electoral defeat in 2027.

The opposition party said diplomatic correspondence between world leaders was a routine aspect of international relations and should not be interpreted as a referendum on the Tinubu administration.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the Presidency of seeking international validation instead of addressing the country’s pressing security and economic challenges.

Similarly, the Allied People’s Movement (APM), accused the Presidency of misleading Nigerians by claiming that Trump commended President Tinubu for his administration’s fight against terrorism.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the party argued that Trump’s letter merely acknowledged Tinubu’s stated commitment to tackling terrorism and did not praise his administration’s performance or achievements in addressing insecurity.

The APM described as “reprehensible” what it called an attempt by the Presidency to distort the content and context of the US President’s correspondence in order to project an image of success in the fight against terrorism.

The opposition party further alleged that the Federal Government was relying on political messaging rather than concrete action to address the country’s security challenges.

The APM added that it believed Nigerians would assess the administration based on its record on security and other issues during the 2027 general elections.

Also, the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC), dismissed the Presidency’s celebration of the reported letter, insisting that Nigerians would judge the government by conditions on the ground.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Osa Director, said it was a shame that the government was celebrating diplomacy over the reality of the Nigerian situation.

“Even if the Tinubu administration gets 1,000 letters and commendations from outside, what matters most is the reality and true conditions of the country,” the director said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, in an interview on Channels Television, described critics of the letter as “jobless thinkers” whose objections were driven by electoral considerations rather than substantive concerns.

Parties Begin Move To Upload Gov Candidates, Others On INEC Portal

Meanwhile, political parties are making frantic efforts to upload their governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates for the 2027 general election on the INEC portal ahead of the 8 August 2026 candidate submission deadline.

According to its schedule of activities, INEC on July 18 opened its portal for authorised leaders of political parties to upload the names and relevant particulars of their flag bearers, and it will close the portal by 6 pm on August 8, 2026.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for instance, it was learnt, has uploaded the nomination details of about 16 governorship candidates on the INEC’s candidate nomination portal, while the party was yet to upload its State Houses of Assembly candidates’ list due to glitches on the Commission’s portal.

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the party had already commenced uploading candidates’ details after receiving its access codes.

“As a matter of fact, we have our access codes, and we have already started uploading these names,” he said.

The Senator Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party equally said it was fully prepared for the exercise.

“The Labour Party has its access codes, and the upload will be done in line with INEC’s guidelines,” a party official said.

Similarly, the APM commenced uploading of governorship candidates with details of Prince Laja Adeoye submitted

as the governorship candidate for Lagos state on the INEC portal.

APC and other political parties that conducted primaries for the 2027 general election are to upload the names of their governorship candidates for 28 states and 993 state constituencies.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) visited former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) in his residence in Minna over the week.

Speaking during the visit, Amupitan assured Nigerians that every valid vote cast in the 2027 General Election will count.

He said, despite the challenges facing the commission, it remained committed to ensuring that the will of the people prevailed at the polls.

For his part, General Abubakar urged Nigerians and political stakeholders to support the commission, stressing that the success of Nigeria’s democracy depended largely on public confidence in INEC.

Also, APC has taken steps to resolve the lingering crisis in the Anambra chapter of the party, following its defeat in last year’s governorship election.

Thus, the Reconciliation Committee constituted by the APC National Working Committee convened a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja this week.

Speaking at the meeting, the committee’s chairman and APC National Deputy Chairman (South), Dr Benjamin Nwoye, emphasised the need for unity in the party in Anambra state.

Nwoye warned that the national leadership of the party will not hesitate to wield the big stick against any recalcitrant member who undermines APC unity and lawful decisions or serves as an agent of opposition interests in Anambra state.