The Presidency on Saturday dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a party battling internal instability following its recent national convention.
This response came from presidential aide Sunday Dare after the ADC’s forum of current and former lawmakers criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allegedly referring to the gathering as “noise” and a “street convention.”
The ADC had gone ahead with its convention at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja despite what it described as a last-minute attempt to disrupt the event. In reaction, the party’s legislators’ forum, led by Nnenna Ukeje, warned that Nigeria’s democracy was under strain and accused the administration of narrowing political space.
They also pointed to Tinubu’s past as a pro-democracy figure, arguing that his current leadership style appears to contradict the principles he once championed, including political pluralism and judicial independence.
However, Dare rejected those claims in a strongly worded statement shared on X, describing the ADC as being in “internal disarray.” In the statement, he accused the opposition of resorting to exaggerated rhetoric and unproven allegations to discredit the government and attract international sympathy.
According to him, the ADC’s criticisms lacked substance and were more theatrical than factual. He argued that the party contradicted itself by first acknowledging Tinubu’s longstanding democratic credentials before attempting to portray him as a threat to democracy.
Dare also clarified that the president did not specifically mention the ADC in his remarks, suggesting that the party’s reaction may reflect its own interpretation rather than any direct attack.
He further defended the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary, dismissing allegations of interference as speculative and warning that such claims could undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
