THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to come clean on the recent reports of an alleged coup plot, warning against using the rumour as a political weapon to silence opposition voices or divert attention from governance failures.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi received by News Point Nigeria, the party cautioned the administration of President Bola Tinubu not to exploit the alleged coup reports to clamp down on dissent or opposition leaders under the guise of national security.
The ADC said any attempt to politicise the incident or use it as an excuse for repression would threaten Nigeria’s fragile democracy and fundamental freedoms.
The statement came amid media reports that several military officers from the ranks of Captain to Brigadier General were arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over alleged secret meetings to topple the Tinubu administration.
However, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) swiftly denied the report, describing it as “false, malicious and capable of causing unnecessary tension.”
Despite the denial, the ADC faulted what it described as the Federal Government’s “conspicuous silence” on the issue, saying its failure to issue a clear and categorical statement had fueled anxiety and confusion across the country.
“The ADC has been closely monitoring reports of an alleged coup plot involving arrested military officers and subsequent media claims that a former southern governor is under investigation for allegedly funding the suspects,” the statement read in part.
“While we vehemently oppose any effort to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order, we are equally concerned about the potential misuse of such allegations to justify political witch-hunts, suppress dissent, or manipulate public sentiment.”
The party also expressed alarm over what it termed “conflicting signals” from government officials, noting that the Defence Headquarters had denied ever mentioning a coup plot despite media reports quoting unnamed security sources.
“Such inconsistency raises fears that the coup narrative may have been politically engineered,” the statement continued.
According to the ADC, the government’s decision to remain silent even after the DHQ’s public denial suggested that it might be deliberately allowing the rumour to linger for political advantage.
“By keeping quiet, the government has deliberately allowed the coup story to fester for whatever reason,” the ADC said. “It is becoming clear that the government is exploiting the coup narrative to divert attention from the real issues of misgovernance and to curry public sympathy.”
The opposition party further criticised reports linking unnamed politicians to the alleged plot, describing it as a dangerous attempt to justify surveillance or possible persecution of perceived opponents.
“Even more worrisome are subsequent media reports linking unnamed politicians to the so-called plot — a development that could be used as a pretext to clamp down on opposition figures or mount undue surveillance on them,” the ADC said.
The statement accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “desperation” and warned that any abuse of national security concerns to settle political scores could erode democratic stability.
“The ADC calls on the Federal Government to immediately clarify the true nature of the alleged coup. If there is indeed a threat to national security, the government must be transparent about it and brief the nation accordingly. Conversely, if the reports are false, the government has a duty to decisively quash the rumour rather than weaponise it for political ends,” the party added.
Reaffirming its commitment to democracy, the ADC said it would resist any form of dictatorship, military or civilian.
“We are resolute in our opposition to dictatorship of any form,” the statement declared. “While we support legitimate efforts to defend our constitution and democracy, we strongly oppose any ploy by the government to intimidate lawful voices under the guise of national security.”