ADC Calls for Clarity on Military Shake-Up

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to offer Nigerians a clear explanation regarding the sudden removal of the country’s service chiefs. The opposition party said the decision, though within the President’s constitutional powers, has raised serious questions about transparency, stability, and the true motives behind the move.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC noted that while the President, as Commander-in-Chief, has the prerogative to appoint or dismiss service chiefs, the timing of the action—coming amid widespread rumours of an attempted coup—makes openness and communication critical.

“We acknowledge that the President reserves the power to make such changes as he may deem fit. However, we are somewhat concerned that this change is coming in the wake of widespread rumours of an attempted coup,” the ADC said, warning that silence and mixed messaging could fuel unnecessary public anxiety.

Party Criticises Government’s Response to Coup Rumours

The ADC accused the Federal Government of handling the rumours surrounding the alleged coup attempt with “confusing and evasive” responses instead of addressing citizens’ concerns directly. Abdullahi said Nigerians deserved clarity rather than “deliberate obfuscation and outright confusion in a matter that required crystal clarity.”

The party further observed that most of the affected service chiefs were relatively new in their positions, with some having served for barely two years. The Chief of Defence Staff, for instance, had been promoted to his role after serving just a year as Chief of Army Staff. The ADC argued that such a significant reshuffle in the military hierarchy likely stemmed from serious, undisclosed reasons.

“This kind of decision has serious and far-reaching implications for stability within the ranks and therefore could not have been taken without strong reasons,” the statement noted, stressing the need for the President to communicate those reasons to avoid speculation and distrust.

ADC Warns Against Political Distractions, Urges Transparency

Expressing deeper concerns about Nigeria’s security situation, the ADC accused the Tinubu administration of being distracted by “regime politics” rather than focusing on protecting citizens. The party warned that insecurity was worsening nationwide, with terrorist groups regaining strength in some regions while bandits continued to operate freely in others.

“Insecurity continues to spread, with terrorist groups staging a comeback in some parts of the country, while bandits reign supreme in others. But this is not the reason the government is changing the service chiefs. Instead, the administration’s attention appears fully focused on regime politics rather than securing the lives of Nigerians,” the statement read.

The ADC cautioned that the sudden military changes could deepen public unease and encourage more conspiracy theories instead of restoring confidence. It urged the Federal Government to act transparently, reassuring citizens that Nigeria’s democracy remains intact and the country’s peace is not under threat.

“We therefore reiterate our earlier position that the Federal Government must address the issue transparently and reassure Nigerians that our democracy is not under threat,” the ADC concluded.