The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Nigerian government to draw lessons from the unfolding crisis in Venezuela, describing it as a strong warning to governments that lack democratic legitimacy.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party reacted to reports of United States’ actions against Venezuela’s leadership, including the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, over alleged drug-related and other offences.
According to the ADC, the treatment meted out to the Venezuelan leader underscores the risks faced by governments that disregard the rule of law, suppress opposition and undermine democratic processes.
The party criticised the Nigerian government for failing to respond to the development, noting that several global actors, including the African Union, South Africa and Ghana, had already taken positions by condemning the US action as a violation of national sovereignty.
Describing President Bola Tinubu’s silence as “deeply embarrassing,” the ADC argued that the lack of response reflects fear rather than neutrality, suggesting that the Nigerian leader may be wary of similar international scrutiny.
While reaffirming its commitment to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the ADC warned that such principles should not be exploited to protect authoritarianism, electoral fraud or the denial of citizens’ rights.
The party recalled that Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election was widely criticised by international observers and several governments across Latin America and Europe, citing allegations of fraud, repression and exclusion of opposition candidates.
According to the ADC, the celebration by sections of the Venezuelan public following the reported intervention highlights a deeper crisis of legitimacy within the Maduro administration and reflects public frustration with years of misrule.
The opposition party further lamented that more than 48 hours after the incident, Nigeria Africa’s most populous nation had yet to issue any official statement.
“This silence confirms Nigeria’s declining voice and standing in global affairs under the Tinubu administration,” the statement said, adding that the government’s inability to take a principled position exposes a broader moral and legitimacy crisis.
The ADC maintained that true sovereignty must derive from the will of the people, stressing that democracy should go beyond elections to guarantee freedom, fairness and improved living conditions for citizens.
It concluded that the Venezuela situation serves as a cautionary tale to authoritarian leaders and election manipulators worldwide, warning that “contrived mandates will no longer find a place to hide as the world watches.”
