The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its lawmakers’ forum over recent allegations against the administration of Bola Tinubu, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.
In a strongly worded response to remarks attributed to former lawmaker Nnenna Ukeje and the ADC Forum of National Legislators, Dare accused the opposition of resorting to “conspiracy theories” and unsubstantiated claims ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the opposition coalition was already attempting to discredit the electoral process and the presidency even before the official commencement of campaigns.
“The script is familiar: attack and blackmail the President, discredit and second guess the electoral process and hold press briefings to flaunt unsubstantiated allegations,” he said.
Dare argued that the ADC’s criticisms were contradictory, noting that the same group had acknowledged Tinubu’s long-standing role in strengthening democracy before attempting to portray him as a threat.
“You cannot spend the first half of a press conference affirming a man’s lifelong commitment to democracy and the second half alleging, without proof, that he has abandoned it. It simply does not hold,” he stated.
The presidential aide maintained that Tinubu’s remarks referenced by the opposition were general in nature and not directed at any specific party.
“The decision by the ADC to assume those remarks were directed at them is, at best, an exercise in self-indictment,” he added.
On allegations of judicial interference, Dare dismissed the claims as speculative, insisting that Nigeria’s judiciary remains independent.
“Attempting to cast doubt on the integrity of the courts based on political disagreements is a dangerous path,” he said.
He also rejected attempts to link the Presidency to internal disputes within the ADC, stressing that such challenges should not be “outsourced” to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Dare further described the opposition coalition as fragmented and driven by personal ambition rather than shared ideology.
“What the ADC represents today is not a coalition of ideas, but a congregation of political opportunists.There is no shared philosophy, no unifying doctrine only ambition colliding with ambition,” he said.
He referenced past comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to highlight what he called internal contradictions within the opposition bloc.
Reaffirming the administration’s position, Dare said Tinubu remains committed to democratic principles, including the rule of law and institutional independence.
“The President has contested elections, respected outcomes, and relied on due process even when decisions did not go in his favour,” he said.
He urged the ADC to focus on resolving its internal issues and presenting credible alternatives to Nigerians instead of engaging in what he described as “alarmist rhetoric.”
“Nigerians deserve a political discourse grounded in facts, not fiction,” Dare concluded.