The opposition African Democratic Congress has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing his administration of plunging millions of Nigerians into deeper poverty, hunger and insecurity while allegedly dismissing the concerns of ordinary citizens.
In a strongly worded statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it was “genuinely shocked and saddened” that President Tinubu would criticise the opposition despite what it described as worsening economic hardship and insecurity under his government.
According to the statement, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is genuinely shocked and saddened that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has presided over one of the most painful periods in Nigeria’s democratic history, would speak so dismissively about the opposition and the Nigerian people while awarding himself a medal for one of the most catastrophic economic policies in recent history.”
The party argued that the administration lacked the moral justification to accuse opposition parties of lacking ideas or direction at a time millions of Nigerians were battling economic hardship.
“It is both ironic and tragic that a government under whose watch nearly 35 million Nigerians are now projected to face acute food insecurity in 2026 would accuse the opposition of lacking ideas or vision,” the statement said.
The ADC further alleged that inflation had eroded household incomes while food prices and insecurity continued to worsen across the country.
“This is a government under which inflation has devastated household incomes, food prices have become unbearable, insecurity has continued to spread across the country, and millions of Nigerians now live with a level of economic anxiety and hopelessness never before experienced in recent national history,” the party stated.
The opposition party claimed that many Nigerian families had been forced to cut down on meals, while businesses were shutting down due to harsh economic conditions.
“Under President Tinubu’s administration, millions of families have been forced to reduce meals, businesses are shutting down daily under unbearable economic pressure, and farmers across many parts of the country can no longer safely access their farmlands because of banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks,” it added.
Citing reports by international organisations, the ADC said Nigeria was facing a severe food insecurity crisis, warning that millions could face acute hunger during the 2026 lean season.
The statement also lamented the growing number of internally displaced persons across the country, especially in the North-West and North-Central regions where communities continue to suffer attacks.
“Yet, instead of humility, accountability, or empathy, President Tinubu has chosen to attack an opposition that has consistently demonstrated more seriousness about governance than many members of his own administration,” the party said.
The ADC maintained that Nigerians were fully aware of the worsening economic realities since the present administration came into office.
“Nigerians know where they were before this government came into office, and they know where they are today,” the statement added.
The party insisted that the opposition should not be blamed for the current economic and security challenges confronting the nation.
“The truth is that the opposition did not create the hunger in the land. The opposition did not destroy the value of the naira. The opposition did not create the insecurity that has turned farming communities into killing fields.
“The opposition did not push businesses into collapse or force millions of young Nigerians into despair and economic uncertainty. Nigerians understand clearly who is responsible for the hardship they are currently enduring, and no amount of political subterfuge can erase the reality of daily suffering across the country,” it stated.
The ADC further challenged the President to address pressing national concerns rather than engage in political rhetoric.
“President Tinubu must understand that Nigerians are no longer interested in speeches or political grandstanding. Nigerians are asking simple questions: Why is food unaffordable? Why are businesses collapsing? Why are citizens increasingly unsafe? Why are more Nigerians falling into poverty despite endless promises of reform and recovery?” the statement queried.
Reaffirming its readiness to provide alternative leadership, the opposition party declared that Nigeria deserved better governance.
“The ADC therefore says this clearly and unequivocally to President Tinubu: the opposition will move Nigeria forward. Nigeria cannot continue on this disastrous path of economic pain without measurable progress, worsening insecurity, institutional decline, and growing hopelessness.
“Nigerians deserve competent leadership, compassionate governance, and a government that understands that power exists to improve lives, not merely to retain control,” the party added.
The ADC also questioned the credibility of the reported 10.99 million votes secured by President Tinubu during the ruling party’s presidential primary.
“The ADC also finds it bizarre that President Tinubu was announced to have secured 10.99 million votes in the APC presidential primary. In a process designed for President Tinubu to contest against himself, one may be tempted to dismiss the figure as laughable, if it were not recognisable for what it truly represents,” the statement concluded.