The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing attack on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, branding a reported $9 million contract for United States lobbying services as a scandalous and indefensible misuse of public funds.
A Condemnation of Misplaced Priorities
In a statement released on 14 January 2026 by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party accused the federal government of attempting to launder its image internationally while citizens at home suffer from severe economic hardship and worsening insecurity.
The ADC argued that the enormous expenditure reflects a profound disconnect from the realities faced by Nigerians. The party highlighted that this spending was approved at a time when thousands have been killed due to insecurity and millions struggle to afford basic necessities like food and healthcare.
An Admission of Diplomatic Failure
The party's statement strongly criticised the rationale behind the contract. It described the move as an admission of diplomatic failure, noting that a government which has left key ambassadorial positions vacant is now resorting to outsourcing its foreign policy to expensive lobbyists.
"No government in Africa has ever committed such an obscene sum to a short-term public relations exercise," the ADC declared. It insisted that while international representation is important, spending $9 million on image management amidst a domestic crisis shows moral blindness and misplaced priorities.
Propaganda Cannot Mask Bloodshed and Failure
The ADC was particularly dismissive of the notion that paid lobbying could improve the government's standing abroad. The party asserted that no amount of image laundering in Washington can erase the reality of mass killings and state failure occurring within Nigeria's borders.
"No amount of image laundering can wash away the blood of thousands of Nigerians killed under this administration’s watch," the statement read. It further criticised the President for declaring a state of emergency on security only to embark on foreign holidays, arguing that no public relations firm can rescue such a leadership approach.
The party also warned against framing the lobbying effort around "Christian protection efforts," stating that this risks deepening sectarian tensions in a country already fractured by religious and ethnic divisions. The ADC emphasized that security failures affect all citizens and cannot be solved with selective messaging abroad instead of tangible justice and governance at home.
In its concluding remarks, the ADC insisted that Nigeria needs leadership, not propaganda. It called for resources to be channeled towards protecting lives, restoring trust in institutions, and rebuilding the nation, rather than polishing the image of a government it accuses of failing its most fundamental duty: the protection of lives and property.
