The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of prioritising his 2027 re-election campaign over his duties as leader of a nation grappling with a severe security crisis.
A Campaign Amidst Crisis
In a strongly-worded statement released on 5 December 2025, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed profound dismay. The ADC criticised the President for reportedly distributing fleets of branded vehicles, including Hilux trucks, Land Cruisers, and Hummer buses, to political agents across Nigeria.
The party contends this action effectively marks the kick-off of Tinubu's campaign for a second term in office, an event they describe as "cynically insensitive." This move, according to the ADC, makes a mockery of the official state of emergency declared to address the country's worsening insecurity.
Violation of Trust and Law
The ADC's statement highlights a stark contrast in priorities. While kidnapped citizens remain in captivity and security forces are stretched thin combating banditry and violence, the President is focused on building a partisan mobilisation structure under the guise of "Renewed Hope Ambassadors."
The party argues that Tinubu is behaving more like a presidential candidate obsessed with re-election than a President responsible for a beleaguered nation. They further alleged that this premature campaign activity constitutes a clear violation of the Electoral Act and the timetable set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Quotes from the ADC Statement
The ADC's statement read in part: "Coming at a time when Nigeria remains under a declared state of emergency due to the worsening crisis of insecurity, this action confirms that the President’s declaration of security emergency was a mere gimmick to grab newspaper headlines."
It further lamented, "At a time when children are being kidnapped, and countless communities are under attack, the President is focused on re-election, seeking to continue presiding over a nation that has become more diminished, more fractured, and more dangerous than he met it."
Implications and Public Outcry
This criticism from a political party adds to the growing public anxiety over the government's handling of the security situation. The ADC's accusation frames the emergency declaration as a political tool rather than a sincere commitment to solving the nation's most pressing issue.
The party's statement serves as a sharp reminder of the expectations placed on leadership during times of national distress, where the welfare of citizens should unequivocally take precedence over political manoeuvring.
