The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant presidential pardon to dozens of convicted drug traffickers and smugglers, describing the move as “a national disgrace” and a betrayal of Nigeria’s anti-drug war.
In a scathing statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the Tinubu administration of “irresponsibly using” the presidential prerogative of mercy, saying the action undermines law enforcement efforts and damages Nigeria’s international credibility.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) finds as pathetic and an act of immense national disgrace the recent presidential pardon and clemency granted to several convicted criminals by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Abdullahi said.
The party questioned the criteria behind the decision, revealing that most of those granted clemency had served less than two years for offences that attract life imprisonment.
“It amounts to a most irresponsible use of the presidential prerogative of mercy to grant express pardon to dozens of convicts held for drug trafficking, smuggling, and related offences, especially when most of these convicts have barely served two years in jail for offences that carry a penalty of life imprisonment,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC dismissed government justifications that the pardoned convicts had shown remorse and acquired skills while in prison, arguing that such reasons fall far short of the standards expected for clemency.
“Pardons and clemency are granted for their social utility and to correct perceived miscarriages of justice, and to convicts who have paid their debts to society. But we wonder what Nigeria stands to gain from this act of clemency to convicts serving life sentences who have barely served two years,” the party said.
Warning of the wider consequences, the ADC said the president’s decision could demoralize the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies that risk their lives daily to fight drug-related crimes.
“Granting clemency to individuals convicted under such laws therefore challenges the very foundation of Nigeria’s legal and moral stance against narcotics and could undermine the efforts of officers fighting the battle against illicit drugs,” Abdullahi said.
The party further warned that the action sends a dangerous signal at a time when Nigeria’s drug use prevalence—estimated at 14.4 percent—is almost three times the global average, describing the decision as reckless and ill-timed.
“These pardons send signals beyond Nigeria’s borders. They could affect our standing among global partners in the fight against drug trafficking and create the impression that our country is not fully committed to the global anti-drug campaign,” the ADC added.
Calling the move a setback for justice and accountability, the ADC urged the Federal Government to exercise far greater restraint in using the presidential power of pardon, insisting that such decisions must align with the principles of fairness, transparency, and the national interest.
“We call on the government to uphold transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in the exercise of such sensitive powers,” Abdullahi said.
Reaffirming its stance, the ADC declared that it would continue to advocate for justice, integrity, and responsible governance in Nigeria’s democratic process.
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