The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned a statement credited to the Presidency alleging that opposition parties are plotting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?s administration before the 2027 general election.

Reacting to a post by presidential adviser, Bayo Onanuga, the ADC described the claim as ?reckless and malicious,? warning that it may be a pretext to suppress dissent and intimidate political opponents.

Onanuga had written on X (formerly Twitter) that ?haters of Nigeria?s progress are banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused, most transformative in our history.? He referenced the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who warned that Tinubu?s reforms would not be easy and should not be misrepresented.

In a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said Onanuga?s post was a ?textbook example of a political dog whistle,? intended to criminalise opposition activities under the guise of national security.

?The ADC is not interested in truncating democracy. We are committed to rescuing Nigeria through democratic means, not by force. We don?t have bullets; we only have the ballot,? Abdullahi said.

He warned that such baseless allegations could signal a broader campaign of repression against opposition leaders and erode the foundations of Nigeria?s democracy.

?We wonder why the APC is so jittery. This is the first opposition party to assume power in Nigeria, yet now finds the existence of opposition unacceptable,? he added.

The ADC urged President Tinubu to caution his aides against making inflammatory statements that could further heat the polity.

?The president must resist the temptation to cry wolf where there is none. It only betrays a sense of panic and undermines his democratic credentials,? the party said.

The coalition also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist any efforts to delegitimise the opposition. It urged the international community to monitor the political environment and hold the government accountable for any actions that threaten democratic freedoms.

?The ADC remains committed to building a better Nigeria through peace, participation, and the power of the people,? the statement added. (Daily Trust, but headline rejigged)

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