The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, describing a reported remark by Senator Abdulaziz Yari about former President Muhammadu Buhari’s inability to end insecurity as an indictment of the ruling party.
The ADC-PCC said the reported comment raised questions about the APC’s capacity to tackle the country’s security challenges as President Bola Tinubu prepares to seek re-election in 2027.
Yari, reportedly the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, was quoted as asking: “If Buhari, who is a retired military man, could not wipe out insecurity, what can Tinubu do?”
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the ADC-PCC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the remark reflected a lack of confidence in the ruling party’s ability to protect Nigerians.
“For a party that has been in power for nearly 12 years, this is a shocking admission of failure. Rather than inspire confidence in Nigerians, the statement from the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council reinforces the growing perception that the ruling party has run out of ideas and has no credible answers to the nation’s security challenges,” the statement said.
The opposition campaign council said Nigerians continued to face attacks, kidnappings, banditry and other violent crimes despite repeated government assurances that the situation would improve.
It argued that Yari’s reported remarks appeared to suggest that Nigerians should lower their expectations of the Tinubu administration because a former military leader had also struggled to contain insecurity.
“Now, the APC’s own campaign chief appears to be asking Nigerians to accept that if a former military Head of State could not defeat insecurity, there is little President Tinubu can do.
“This is not the language of a party offering hope; it is an expression of helplessness from a party seeking another mandate,” the council said.
The ADC-PCC also questioned why Nigerians should renew the APC’s mandate when security remained a major national concern.
It challenged the ruling party to explain how it intended to convince voters that Tinubu could address insecurity if, according to the opposition, a leading figure in his campaign had expressed doubts about the government’s capacity.
The council said Nigeria needed leadership that would accept responsibility for the security situation, develop practical solutions and demonstrate the political will to protect lives and property.
ADC canvasses alternative
Presenting the ADC as an alternative, the campaign council highlighted the security proposals of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, whom it described as an experienced politician with a plan to address insecurity, revive the economy and promote national cohesion.
According to the council, Atiku’s proposed approach would involve strengthening the country’s security architecture, investing in modern policing, deploying advanced technology and improving intelligence-led operations.
It also advocated job creation and measures to address socioeconomic conditions that contribute to criminality, arguing that sustainable security required both effective law enforcement and economic opportunities.
The ADC-PCC further identified better coordination among security agencies, adequate equipment, improved intelligence gathering and stronger welfare support for security personnel as essential to tackling insecurity.
The council urged Nigerians to consider the implications of Yari’s reported comments as they assess the APC’s record ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“Senator Yari’s statement has reinforced the very question Nigerians must ask before the next presidential election: if the APC cannot confidently explain how its candidate will secure the country, why should Nigerians entrust it with another four years?” it asked.
The opposition campaign council said Nigeria could not afford continued insecurity and called for a change in the country’s approach to protecting lives and property.
It urged voters to consider the ADC’s proposals, insisting that national security should remain a central issue in the debate ahead of the 2027 election.
