The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Federal Government not to use the recent reports of an alleged coup plot as a political weapon to intimidate opposition leaders, suppress dissenting voices, or justify unlawful surveillance of critics.
In a statement issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, the ADC said while it acknowledges the gravity of any threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability, it would resist any attempt by the administration to “exploit the situation to instil fear, suppress dissent, or gain political advantage under the guise of national security.”
The party expressed concern over reports linking some arrested military officers to an alleged coup plot and claims circulating in the media that a former southern governor was under investigation for allegedly funding the suspects. It cautioned that such narratives must not be turned into tools for political persecution.
“While we vehemently oppose any effort to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order, we are equally concerned about the potential misuse of such allegations to justify political witch-hunts, suppress dissent, or manipulate public sentiment,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC also criticised the Federal Government for what it described as confusing and inconsistent communication surrounding the issue, noting that the Defence Headquarters had denied mentioning any coup attempt despite widespread media reports to the contrary.
“Such inconsistency raises serious fears that the coup narrative may have been politically engineered,” the statement added.
The party faulted the government’s silence and lack of transparency, saying its failure to make a clear and authoritative statement had allowed rumours to spread unchecked, thereby heightening public anxiety and suspicion.
According to the ADC, the federal authorities appear to be “using the coup story to divert attention from issues of misgovernance and to seek public sympathy,” adding that unverified claims about unnamed politicians could easily become a pretext for targeting opposition figures.
“What is clear is that the government is exploiting the coup story to divert attention from the real issues of misgovernance in the country and to curry sympathy,” the statement said.
Describing the situation as a sign of desperation, the ADC warned that such political tactics could “endanger the nation’s democracy and erode citizens’ rights.”
“We understand that the APC government is desperate. But such desperation must never be allowed to endanger our democracy or undermine the democratic rights of citizens,” the party cautioned.
The ADC called on the government to come clean on the alleged coup—either by conclusively dismissing the rumours or by being transparent about any verified security threat—while urging it to refrain from weaponising national security to stifle opposition or civic engagement.
Reaffirming its commitment to constitutional democracy, the ADC declared: “The ADC is resolute in its opposition to dictatorship in any form. We support any legitimate action taken to defend our constitution and democracy, but we reject any ploy by the government to intimidate legitimate voices under the guise of national security.”
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