The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be concerned about a possible defeat in the 2027 general elections, insisting that his main opposition is not political parties but millions of Nigerians grappling with hardship.
In a press statement issued Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the president’s recent comments about the opposition as “unpresidential” and reflective of a leader out of touch with citizens’ realities.
The ADC was reacting to remarks by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where he reportedly dismissed opposition parties and mocked their activities, including claims about holding a convention “on the street.”
According to the opposition party, such comments suggest the president is focused on politics rather than addressing pressing national challenges, including rising poverty and insecurity.
“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,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that worsening economic conditions — including high cost of living, food inflation, and declining purchasing power — should be the administration’s priority, rather than political rhetoric.
It also raised concerns about insecurity, citing incidents of abductions and the spread of violence, which it said continue to affect everyday life across the country.
The party rejected claims that it held its national convention in inappropriate venues, insisting that such narratives were false and possibly the result of misinformation reaching the president.
It further accused the Tinubu administration of shrinking democratic space, alleging that opposition parties have faced difficulties accessing public venues such as the Eagle Square for political activities.
On governance, the ADC criticised what it described as executive overreach, warning that the president cannot simultaneously act as political actor and arbiter of legal matters.
“The president cannot preach separation of powers while assuming the role of interpreter of the law, political referee, and commentator on judicial matters,” the statement added.
The party also took aim at Tinubu’s recent political outreach to supporters of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a “hypocritical” shift after previously distancing himself from Buhari’s record.
