Tinubu Has No Role in ADC Crisis, Presidency Says as Opposition Turmoil Deepens

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Abuja, Nigeria — The Presidency has firmly rejected accusations that President Bola Tinubu played any part in the leadership crisis engulfing the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing claims linking the head of state to the opposition party’s internal disputes as unfounded and politically motivated.

On April 6, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, issued a pointed statement dismissing allegations tying Mr Tinubu or his administration to the ADC’s leadership disputes. He said the President had nothing to do with Peter Obi’s departure from the Labour Party or his subsequent difficulties within the ADC, describing repeated accusations as a “favorite whipping boy” tactic used by what he labeled incompetent politicians. According to Onanuga, the crisis has been mischaracterized and wrongly attributed to the presidency as a deliberate political stratagem.

The ADC dispute has drawn intense public attention because of its timing, with Nigeria approaching the 2027 general elections, and the high-profile political figures involved. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, along with other notable politicians, aligned with the ADC as part of opposition efforts against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, deep disagreements within the party have emerged over leadership and control, leaving the ADC internally fractured.

At the heart of the crisis is a prolonged leadership tussle between factions within the ADC. The conflict stems from the resignation of certain executives in 2025 and the emergence of a new leadership structure led by former Senate President David Mark and Secretary Rauf Aregbesola. This move was contested by other party members and led to litigation before the Court of Appeal and ongoing issues at the Federal High Court in Abuja. A March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal ordered that the status quo ante be maintained until the court’s substantive judgment, effectively invalidating or suspending competing claims to party leadership.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subsequently removed all leadership structures of the ADC from its official registration portal and suspended recognition of any competing faction. The commission said it was acting in compliance with the court’s directive and would not engage with any of the party’s leadership until the internal dispute was resolved.

In response, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused INEC of actions that could jeopardize the party’s ability to field candidates in the 2027 elections. Abdullahi said INEC’s refusal to accept correspondence from the party could effectively bar it from meeting electoral deadlines and threaten its participation in the electoral process.

Some within the ADC have gone further, framing the crisis as part of a broader attempt to marginalize Peter Obi’s political prospects. The Obidient Movement, a loose support network for Obi, alleged that political forces are working to undermine his candidacy by sowing chaos within parties he is associated with, linking changes to electoral laws and judicial processes into what they describe as a coordinated effort to keep him off the ballot.

The ADC’s Youth Wing has also expressed frustration, issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to INEC to reinstate recognition of the party’s leadership as it stood before the dispute or face nationwide peaceful civic actions. The youth body described current developments as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic system.

Political reactions outside the ADC have varied. A chieftain of the ruling APC in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, publicly urged the ADC to stop blaming President Tinubu for its woes, arguing that Tinubu is neither a judicial authority nor responsible for decisions by INEC. He maintained that the crisis is an internal party affair and should be resolved within the ADC rather than by pointing fingers at the presidency.

Civil society voices have weighed in too. The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria defended INEC’s adherence to the court order and cautioned political actors against portraying the commission’s actions as bias or targeted interference. The council emphasized that enforcing compliance with valid judicial directives falls within INEC’s constitutional mandate.

Political analysts describe the ADC crisis as representative of broader weaknesses within Nigerian opposition parties, particularly in managing rapid transformations and high-profile alliances ahead of major elections. Internal leadership battles, disagreements over governance structures, and competing ambitions have hampered the ADC’s ability to present a unified front.

The ADC leadership dispute has also spawned strategic debate within the party’s ranks. Some presidential aspirants under the ADC banner describe the situation as self-inflicted but potentially resolvable if party leaders embrace dialogue and internal democratic solutions. They argue that, despite setbacks, the ADC still has potential as a political platform if its leaders can reconcile internal differences.

Peter Obi, for his part, has been publicly critical of institutions he perceives as complicit in the current deadlock. In recent comments, he sharply criticized what he described as a lack of democratic practice within key institutions, drawing comparisons to Nigeria’s past authoritarian era to underscore his frustration with the current political situation.

As the calendar moves closer to critical electoral deadlines, including the submission of party membership registers and resolutions of disputes ahead of primaries, the ADC crisis adds pressure on Nigeria’s already contested political environment. The resolution of these internal disputes, adherence to legal processes, and the maintenance of institutional neutrality are now subjects of heightened scrutiny among voters, political stakeholders, and civil society.

Whether the ADC can reconcile its internal divisions, secure recognition from INEC, and participate meaningfully in the 2027 general elections remains uncertain. What is clear — based on official statements, legal developments, and political commentary — is that President Tinubu’s government is not legally or officially implicated in the party’s leadership crisis. The presidency maintains that the issues are internal to the ADC and that conflating them with federal intervention is inaccurate.

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