Don’t use alleged coup to intimidate opposition – ADC tells FG

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Federal Government not to use the recent reports of an alleged coup plot as an excuse to intimidate opposition leaders or silence dissenting voices.

In a statement issued yesterday  and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it views any threat to Nigeria’s democratic order with utmost concern.

However, the party cautioned that the government must not exploit the situation to instill fear, suppress criticism, or gain political advantage under the cover of national security.

“The ADC has been closely monitoring the reports of an alleged coup plot involving some arrested military officers and claims that a former southern governor is under investigation for allegedly funding the suspects,” Abdullahi said.

“While we strongly oppose any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order, we are equally worried that such allegations could be used to justify political witch-hunts or manipulate public sentiment.”

The party expressed concern over the conflicting statements from government sources, noting that the Defence Headquarters had publicly denied ever announcing any coup plot despite media reports suggesting otherwise.

“Such inconsistency raises fears that the coup narrative may have been politically engineered,” the statement added.

According to the ADC, the Federal Government’s silence on the matter is fueling suspicion and confusion among citizens.

“By keeping quiet, the government has deliberately allowed the coup story to fester for whatever reason,” Abdullahi said. “What is clear, however, is that the government is exploiting the coup story to divert attention from the real issues of misgovernance and to curry sympathy.”

The party also warned that the situation could be used as a pretext to clamp down on opposition figures or place them under surveillance.

“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,” Abdullahi stated.

The ADC called on the government to make a clear and transparent statement about the alleged coup and to stop using national security as a weapon against political opponents. “If there is truly a threat to national security, the government should brief the nation accordingly,” the statement said.

“Otherwise, it must desist from weaponising national security as a pretext to silence opposition and political dissent.”

The party said it stands firmly against dictatorship in any form.

“The ADC supports all legitimate actions taken in defence of our constitution and democracy,” Abdullahi said.

“In the same vein, we oppose any attempt by the government to intimidate legitimate voices under the guise of national security.”