The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has fiercely criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for what it described as a “premature and illegal” re-election campaign in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing the party of flouting the Electoral Act and mocking the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
In a statement signed by ADC spokesperson Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party condemned the ongoing political endorsements and billboards supporting a second term for Tinubu as a violation of INEC’s regulations, which prohibit public campaign activity until 150 days before the 2027 general elections.
“From Abuja to Kano, choreographed endorsements and billboards have turned the streets into a premature campaign trail,” Abdullahi stated. “This is not just illegal—it’s a cruel mockery of citizens who are battling hunger, poverty, and insecurity.”
The ADC lambasted the APC for engaging in political theatrics rather than addressing Nigeria’s mounting socio-economic crises:
Inflation remains above 22%, pushing food and transport costs beyond the reach of most citizens.
The naira has collapsed from N461/$ to over N1,500/$ since early 2023.
Petrol prices have surged past N1,000 per litre post-subsidy, compounding the cost-of-living crisis.
National debt servicing now exceeds federal revenues, leaving critical sectors like health and education underfunded.
Insecurity has worsened, with over 3,000 killings and 1,800 civilian deaths reported in the last quarter alone.
The party pointed to recent mass abductions in Zamfara State, the repeated collapse of the national power grid, and rising corruption and press suppression as evidence of systemic governance failure under the APC.
“Instead of solutions, we get campaign slogans. Instead of security personnel, we see billboards. While Nigerians are being kidnapped in droves, the government is obsessed with digital propaganda,” Abdullahi said.
Calling for a halt to the “illegal campaign machinery,” the ADC urged APC to respect the Electoral Act and redirect its energy toward real governance and national recovery.
In a related development, Abdullahi dismissed as fake news a viral report claiming that INEC had refused to recognise the party’s new National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator David Mark.
“This story is entirely false. The public should disregard it and stay focused on mobilising for the greater task of national rescue,” the statement concluded.
