The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government against exploiting reports of an alleged coup plot to intimidate opposition figures or suppress dissenting voices.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party urged the government to handle the matter with transparency and avoid weaponising national security to serve political ends.
“The ADC has been following reports of an alleged coup plot involving some arrested military officers and claims that a former southern governor is under investigation for allegedly funding them,” Abdullahi said.
“While we strongly condemn any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic order, we are equally concerned that such allegations could be used to justify political persecution, instil fear, or manipulate public sentiment.”
He noted that the Defence Headquarters’ denial of knowledge about the alleged coup had raised doubts about the credibility of the reports. According to him, the federal government’s silence on the matter has allowed rumours to spread unchecked, fuelling suspicion of political motives.
“What appears clear is that the government is using the coup narrative to distract from widespread misgovernance and to garner public sympathy,” Abdullahi stated.
He further warned that linking unnamed politicians to the alleged plot could pave the way for clampdowns or surveillance on opposition members, describing it as a dangerous precedent.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress must not allow desperation to cling to power to jeopardise democracy or citizens’ rights,” he added. “The government owes Nigerians full disclosure on the alleged coup if there is indeed any threat, rather than exploiting it for political advantage.”
The alleged coup report was first published by SaharaReporters on Saturday, revealing that some army officers attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had been arrested. ONSA, headed by Nuhu Ribadu, comprises personnel drawn from the armed forces, intelligence, law enforcement, and paramilitary agencies.
