The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised a social media post made by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, which alleged that the opposition was plotting to overthrow the Tinubu-led administration before 2027.
The party described the claim as “reckless and malicious,” warning that such remarks could lay the groundwork for a broader campaign of intimidation and systematic repression against opposition voices in the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, exactly one week after the formal launch of the national opposition coalition in Abuja, ADC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to stoke fear and delegitimise dissent.
Naija News reports that Onanuga had recently stated that “some haters of Nigeria’s progress are bonding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused, most transformative in our history.”
Onanuga who was responding to a video on 𝕏 wrote: “Emir Sanusi warned Nigerians what to expect from President Tinubu’s reforms. “It’s not going to be easy”, he said.
“If anybody tells you it would be easy”, don’t vote for him”. Just two years after Tinubu began implementing the reforms, the haters of Nigeria’s progress are 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 statement read.
“The APC-led federal government appears to be constructing a false narrative to justify a clampdown on opposition under the guise of national security.”
Responding to the Presidential aide’s submission, Abdullahi cautioned that such unsubstantiated claims could signal the start of a dangerous pattern by the government to silence alternative voices through allegations of sedition or subversion.
‘We Have Ballots, Not Bullets’
Clarifying the position of the opposition coalition, Abdullahi emphasised that the ADC and its allies are committed to democratic processes, not insurrection.
The ADC chieftain said, “We are not soldiers; we are politicians.
“We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots. Our goal is to present the Nigerian people with an alternative vision for the future.”
The statement stressed that the opposition’s focus is on offering credible solutions and competing in the electoral arena—not sabotaging democratic institutions.
The ADC also criticised the ruling APC for allegedly betraying the very principles that once helped it ascend to power.
“It is ironic that the APC, which became the first opposition party to win the presidency in Nigeria, now appears to find the existence of opposition strange,” Abdullahi said.
He questioned why the party that once thrived on dissent and activism now seems “jittery” and intolerant of criticism, even with two years to go before the next general election.
ADC Calls for Restraint and Global Attention
Calling on President Tinubu to rein in his aides, the ADC urged the presidency to avoid making baseless allegations that could “heat up the polity unnecessarily.
“This manner of crying wolf where there is none does not make the president look good. It only betrays a sense of panic.”
The party also urged Nigerians to stay alert and resist attempts to delegitimise the opposition.
“The health of our democracy depends on a free, open, and competitive political environment,” Abdullahi added.
In its concluding remarks, the ADC called on foreign governments, human rights organisations, and international observers to closely monitor the unfolding political atmosphere in Nigeria.
“We urge the international community to hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any action that undermines democratic freedoms or violates citizens’ political rights,” the statement added.
The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful democratic participation, stressing that it remains focused on “building a better Nigeria through peace, participation, and the power of the people.”
The post ‘We Have Ballots, Not Bullets’ – ADC Slams Onanuga’s Coup Allegation, Warns Against Clampdown On Opposition appeared first on Naija News.