Abuja, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardons to dozens of convicted murderers, drug traffickers, and smugglers, calling it “pathetic and a national disgrace.”
Tinubu Grants Clemency to 175 Convicts
President Tinubu released a list of all 175 beneficiaries of the presidential pardon in a press statement on Saturday, issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The pardons included convicts serving sentences for drug trafficking, smuggling, gun running, and murder. Many of these convicts had reportedly served less than two years of life sentences.
ADC Condemns Action as Irresponsible
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that the move undermines Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts, encourages crime, and damages the nation’s global image.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) finds as pathetic and an act of immense national disgrace the recent presidential pardon and clemency granted to several convicted criminals by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.
The party criticized the pardons as an abuse of presidential power, noting that clemency is meant to correct miscarriages of justice or recognize convicts who have served their debt to society.
Nigeria’s Drug Problem at Risk
The ADC warned that the pardons send the wrong message in a country grappling with high drug use and trafficking.
Nigeria is a major transit point for illicit drugs.
National drug use is estimated at 14.4%, nearly three times the global average of 5.5%.
Security agencies, including the NDLEA, risk their lives to combat narcotics and enforce the law.
Granting clemency to convicted drug traffickers, the ADC argues, undermines the sacrifices of law enforcement officers and weakens Nigeria’s stance against narcotics.
Global Reputation at Stake
The party also warned that the pardons could damage Nigeria’s credibility internationally, giving the impression that the country sympathizes with drug traffickers and is an unsafe jurisdiction for legal enforcement.
ADC: “Redefining Morality in Nigeria”
The ADC accused President Tinubu and the ruling APC of redefining the country’s moral standards, transforming Nigeria into a nation where even serious crimes attract minimal punishment.
“With this mass clemency for drug dealers, Nigeria is gradually becoming a country where anything goes,” the party said.
The ADC reaffirmed its mission to rescue Nigeria from APC rule, claiming that the party prioritizes power and impunity over accountability.
