The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly denied claims that opposition parties are working to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, accusing the presidency of manufacturing fear to stifle dissent.
In a statement issued Wednesday, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi condemned a recent social media post by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, calling it “reckless and inflammatory.”
Onanuga had claimed via X (formerly Twitter) that critics of the administration were conspiring to dismantle “the most focused, most transformative government” in Nigeria’s history.
Citing a video of former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Onanuga argued that opponents of Tinubu’s reform agenda are now allegedly mobilising to derail his presidency.
But the ADC dismissed the assertion as a calculated attempt to criminalise political opposition.
“We are politicians, not insurgents. We fight with ideas, not arms. To suggest otherwise is both misleading and dangerous,” Abdullahi said in the party’s statement.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of becoming intolerant of the same opposition tactics that once propelled it to power, warning that the government’s growing tendency to label dissent as treasonous is a threat to democracy.
“What we are witnessing is an old strategy: discredit your critics, then silence them,” Abdullahi added. “It’s disappointing that a party that once thrived in opposition is now allergic to it.”
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The ADC also called on President Tinubu to restrain his advisers from making provocative statements, saying the country could not afford heightened political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Crying wolf where there is none only makes the government appear insecure,” the ADC said.
The party urged citizens to stay vigilant and resist efforts to delegitimise the opposition or shrink democratic space. It also appealed to international observers to take note of what it described as emerging signs of political repression in Nigeria.
“Freedom to challenge power is the lifeblood of democracy. If this space is closed, Nigeria stands to lose far more than an election,” the ADC warned.
This latest exchange underscores the rising friction between the Tinubu-led administration and opposition voices who accuse the government of failing to tolerate criticism.
Analysts say the mounting tension could shape the tone of political discourse in the build-up to the next general election.