The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his statement that he was prepared to “fight to the finish” politically, urging him to concentrate on finishing terrorists and fighting insecurity, rather than engaging his political opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party said the President should prioritise defeating terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, instead of focusing on political battles, arguing that the country’s worsening security situation demands urgent attention.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described as disturbing, Tinubu’s remarks during a visit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the opposition party, “the President’s comments came at a time when the country was still reeling from a deadly attack on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where at least 30 people were reportedly killed”.
The ADC said the President’s constitutional responsibility was to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, insisting that his focus should remain on combating violent crimes, rather than preparing for political contests.
“The fight Nigerians elected the President to lead is against terrorists, kidnappers and armed criminals, not the opposition,” the party stated.
It accused the Tinubu administration of responding to insecurity with repeated statements of condemnation and sympathy, instead of taking decisive action to halt escalating violence across the country.
The party alleged that while the President appeared combative in dealing with opposition parties, he remained merely a commentator on issues bothering on insecurity.
According to the ADC, President Tinubu should direct the same energy he expressed about political contests, towards defeating terrorists and criminal groups that have continue to attack communities, displace residents and claim innocent lives.
The opposition party further argued that, “after more than three years in office, the administration could not point to a security record that justified political confidence”, maintaining that the President should reflect more on his performance, rather than heating up political rhetoric ahead of the next elections.
