The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has leveled grave accusations against the Bola Tinubu government, claiming that it was involved in clandestine plots to undermine the opposition alliance in the run-up to the 2027 general elections. The ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, announced that the party has credible intelligence indicating that high-ranking Tinubu government officials have been holding clandestine meetings to undermine opposition unity, with a particular focus on the ADC state chairmen in the Northwest and Northeast regions.
Abdullahi claims that the purpose of these Abuja sessions was to divide the coalition by intimidating, threatening, and perhaps enlisting opposition figures in schemes that would undermine national security and peacebuilding efforts. According to him, this is a kind of sabotage that poses a threat to Nigeria's multiparty democracy. He also warned that these techniques are similar to the ones used to create one-party states in the past, which were based on political manipulation and intimidation.
The ADC drew attention to the fact that the governing party appears to be intimidated by the opposition coalition's debut and declaration in early July, which has been gaining traction as a viable alternative to the current government. Abdullahi stressed that, instead of tackling problems with governance, the Tinubu government is trying to undermine opposition parties to regain public confidence. Claiming to speak for Nigerians weary of political exploitation and oppression, the alliance has vowed to use all democratic tools at its disposal to thwart efforts to transform Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship.
This allegation is made in the context of wider political shifts in Nigeria. Several senators and governors have allegedly defected to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that President Tinubu's government has been successful in luring defections from opposition parties. Opposition politicians argue that inducements and blackmail have contributed to the depletion of opposition ranks, while the APC asserts that these actions demonstrate strong leadership and the attraction of the party.
Adding to the political strain, a former top advisor to President Tinubu on public affairs, Aliyu Audu, resigned in June 2025, expressing worries about attempts to limit democratic space and centralize control inside a single dominating party. Audu cautioned that such developments imperil Nigeria’s democratic progress and asked for a reversal to maintain political pluralism.
Despite these charges, President Tinubu has refuted suggestions that his government is weakening democracy or opposition parties. His administration declared that no government policy or instruction intended to undermine democracy, encouraging Nigerians to avoid what it dubbed alarmist tales from dissatisfied opposition leaders. Tinubu underlined his commitment to multiparty democracy and emphasized that party defections are part of political processes witnessed internationally.
Political observers argue that the opposition’s present issues, including internal disagreements and defections, have made it impossible to create a unified front against Tinubu’s APC in 2027. Veteran writer Dele Momodu remarked that only a powerful coalition could genuinely contest Tinubu’s campaign for a second term, pointing out that the governing party is deliberately seeking to destroy the major opposition party via factionalization.
The ADC has urged President Tinubu to take responsibility and rein in appointees reportedly implicated in these destabilizing operations, underlining the need to defend democratic ideals and respect the will of the Nigerian people.
In summary, the ADC’s charges portray a picture of a volatile political atmosphere where the incumbent administration is accused of surreptitiously sabotaging opposition parties to preserve power, while the government disputes these assertions and refers to democratic mechanisms at work. The evolving political dynamics will be vital to follow as Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections.
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