The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised serious concerns over what it described as a “desperate and dangerous plot” by officials within the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to infiltrate and destabilise the growing opposition coalition in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary and National Spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that some former state chairmen and key executives of the ADC from the North East and North West regions had been secretly invited to a meeting with top officials of the Federal Government.
“We have credible intelligence indicating that the purpose of this meeting is not aligned with national interest, security, or peacebuilding,” the statement read. “Rather, it is designed to intimidate, coerce, and possibly recruit these individuals into a manufactured scheme to weaken the opposition. This is not politics—it is sabotage.”
The ADC claims the covert strategy aims to sow confusion within the party, delegitimise its newly restructured leadership, and disrupt its momentum as a revitalised opposition force.
“Let it be clear: this clandestine engagement with our State Chairmen by federal government appointees—at a time when Nigeria is grappling with urgent national challenges—is a direct assault on multiparty democracy. This is the very foundation of how one-party states are created—through fear and force,” Abdullahi said.
The party linked the alleged plot to the July 1st Coalition Declaration and the subsequent July 2nd unveiling of a reinvigorated ADC, developments it believes have unsettled the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Abdullahi, the ruling party is struggling to cope with the emergence of a united and credible opposition and has resorted to its “old tactics of disruption and manipulation” rather than engaging in genuine governance reforms.
“It is now clear that this administration, having lost the trust of Nigerians, is terrified by the strength and potential of a united opposition. But instead of addressing the root causes of public discontent—rising hardship, insecurity, and misgovernance—they have chosen to attack those offering hope.”
The ADC described the new coalition as a symbol of hope for Nigerians tired of “deceit, manipulation, and worsening living conditions,” and vowed to resist any move that could drag the nation into autocracy.
“This party is owned by the people—every Nigerian who wants to see dignity, vision, and justice return to governance. We will not allow a handful of desperate actors to hijack the democratic space and turn Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship. We will resist this with every democratic tool at our disposal,” the statement affirmed.
The party called on President Tinubu to immediately call his appointees to order and demonstrate his commitment to democratic values.
“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take these dangerous developments seriously. If the Jonathan administration had been this intolerant toward opposition parties, there would have been no APC victory in 2015, and he wouldn’t be president today. He must remember that history.”
The ADC reaffirmed its dedication to building a strong, issue-based opposition and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and united in defending democracy.
