Tinubu govt using national security as excuse to suppress opposition — ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed concern over what it perceives as attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to suppress opposition voices under the guise of national security.

The party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the APC’s actions as “increasing intolerance toward political dissent” and warned that democracy cannot thrive when opposing voices are treated as threats to national security.

The ADC responded to a statement by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who alleged that certain political figures were “banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused, most transformative in our history.”

“Bayo Onanuga’s tweet is a textbook example of a political dog whistle,” the ADC stated. “The APC-led Federal Government appears to be constructing a false narrative designed to justify a potential crackdown on dissent and to criminalise legitimate opposition activities under the guise of protecting national security.”

The ADC dismissed Onanuga’s post as “irresponsible and defamatory.”

The party reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles and stated that its goal is to rescue the country from what it called the “irredeemable incompetence” of President Tinubu’s administration through peaceful and democratic means.

The ADC accused the APC of forgetting its own roots as a former opposition party and now finding the idea of opposition unacceptable.

The party also warned of covert attempts to delegitimize the opposition and shrink democratic space.

The ADC called on President Tinubu to rein in his aides and urged citizens to remain alert.

The party also appealed to the international community to closely monitor the political climate in Nigeria and hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any actions that undermine democratic freedoms or violate the political rights of Nigerian citizens.

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