ADC Condemns Presidential Pardon as Abuse of Power

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardons to several convicted drug traffickers and smugglers, describing the action as “a national disgrace” and “a gross abuse of presidential power.”

In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused President Tinubu of undermining Nigeria’s fight against drug crimes. The party argued that pardoning individuals convicted of serious offences such as drug trafficking and smuggling—some of whom have served less than two years of life sentences—sends a dangerous signal to both citizens and the international community.

“It amounts to a most irresponsible abuse of the presidential power of mercy,” Abdullahi stated, adding that such clemency trivialises crimes that have destroyed countless lives and communities. “The president’s action has turned the power of clemency into an instrument of moral decay,” he added.

ADC Warns of Damage to Nigeria’s Global Image

The ADC warned that the decision could seriously harm Nigeria’s global reputation and weaken the country’s alliances in international anti-drug operations. According to the statement, “these pardons undercut our standing among global partners in the fight against drug trafficking” and risk portraying Nigeria as “a risk-free jurisdiction for traffickers in narcotics.”

The statement noted that while Nigeria already faces a rising epidemic of drug use—estimated at 14.4%, nearly three times the global average of 5.5%—the government’s decision undermines the tireless efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies.

“For years, our law enforcement agencies have risked life and limb to dismantle drug networks, intercept consignments, and prosecute offenders,” Abdullahi said. “To pardon such criminals is to mock those sacrifices and to weaken the moral foundation of our fight against narcotics.”

ADC Accuses APC of Redefining National Morality

The ADC further accused President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “redefining the standard of morality” in Nigeria. It argued that the administration’s decision promotes a culture of impunity, where serious crimes are met with leniency rather than justice.

“Make no mistake,” the statement declared, “with this mass clemency for drug dealers, President Tinubu and the APC are transforming Nigeria into a place where anything goes—where even the worst of crimes attract no real punishment.”

Reaffirming its mission to “rescue Nigeria from the grip of impunity,” the ADC concluded that public accountability and moral leadership must be restored if the nation is to regain credibility both at home and abroad.