…Warns Nigerians won’t take excuses in 2027
…Disowns fake INEC list, Dumebi Kachikwu
By Jeremy Fregene
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot expect sympathy or extended timelines from Nigerians, insisting that four years is sufficient for any leader to make a meaningful impact and transform the country.
The party, in a blistering critique of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, accused the federal government of worsening the economic hardship confronting millions of citizens and warned that Nigerians are ready to vote Tinubu out in 2027 if he fails to deliver results within his current tenure.
National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, who addressed journalists at the weekend in Abuja, said history shows that determined leaders have recorded “sterling achievements within just four years,” and Tinubu should not be an exception. He argued that the government has no coherent plan to mitigate the devastating effects of its policies, citing fuel subsidy removal, currency devaluation, rising foreign debts, and impending new taxes on fuel and aviation as examples of measures that have only deepened citizens’ misery.
“The question of whether four years is enough: yes, we have seen people who delivered significant results in that time,” Abdullahi said. “Nigerians are already facing crippling conditions. Extending another mandate to this government in 2027 would be like signing our own death warrant.”
He added that the APC appears more interested in stifling scrutiny than in solving problems. “They hate opposition because they want a condition where no one asks questions, where no one shines the light on their actions. But it is our duty as opposition to hold them accountable, and that is what we will keep doing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ADC dismissed reports claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had confirmed a list of its state chairmen across the country. The circulating document, titled “Coalition Update: INEC Confirms ADC State Chairmen Nationwide”, was branded “fake news” by Abdullahi, who maintained that INEC has issued no such confirmation.
“Choosing and approving state leaders is strictly the party’s internal responsibility, not INEC’s,” he explained. “The Commission only recognises what the party submits after due process. We urge our members and the public to ignore such fabrications and wait for official communication from us.”
The ADC also moved to distance itself from its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, insisting he is no longer a member of the party and therefore has no say in its internal affairs. This followed Kachikwu’s criticism of INEC for allegedly recognising David Mark as ADC national chairman, a move he described as irresponsible.
Abdullahi, however, said Kachikwu’s interventions were misplaced. “Being a one-time presidential candidate of any party does not make you the owner of the party,” he said. “He has no business in this conversation. He is not even a member of the ADC.”
The spokesman accused Kachikwu of divisive rhetoric, particularly for deriding the party’s leadership as “old people.” He maintained that the ADC remains committed to internal democracy and will not be distracted by individuals or external forces bent on destabilising opposition voices.
Abdullahi urged party members nationwide to remain disciplined and focused on the broader mission of building a credible alternative for Nigerians ahead of 2027, stressing again that “four years is more than enough for President Tinubu to prove himself—or to face the consequences at the ballot.”