THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused state governors of misleading President Bola Tinubu on the true state of insecurity in Nigeria, urging the President to leave the comfort of Aso Villa and experience firsthand the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
The opposition party, which is part of the emerging coalition preparing to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections, said the Federal Government’s narrative on improved security under Tinubu’s leadership does not reflect the lived reality of millions of Nigerians.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesman of the ADC and former Minister of Youth and Sports, said Tinubu was being “shielded from the truth” by political allies and state governors seeking to stay in his good books.
“President Tinubu needs to leave the Villa and go on the streets. He should talk to Nigerians and stop listening to state governors who only say what they think he wants to hear,” Abdullahi said during the broadcast monitored by News Point Nigeria.
Abdullahi expressed deep concern over what he called the “false narrative” being peddled by presidential aides, particularly in relation to security gains. He said such narratives have created a dangerous echo chamber around the President.
“I feel sorry for President Tinubu because if this is the kind of narrative he’s surrounded with, then it’s obvious he lives in a bubble,” he added.
His comments came in direct response to Daniel Bwala, a senior aide to the President, who earlier on the same programme argued that insecurity had been significantly reduced under Tinubu’s administration.
Bwala, a former PDP spokesman turned Tinubu loyalist, had cited reduced attacks in Benue, Plateau, and the South-East as signs of progress, claiming that violent activities by unknown gunmen and secessionist agitators had “gone down” since the President assumed office in May 2023.
“Look at the IPOB issue, the unknown gunmen in 2022 and 2023, kidnapping people right in their homes – that has gone down. Insecurity has been degraded to a large extent,” Bwala stated.
He added that much of the criminality now experienced in Nigeria stems from “general lawlessness,” which he described as common to many parts of the world and not necessarily a reflection of poor governance.
But the ADC rejected that claim outright, saying large swathes of the country remain under the control of criminal gangs, insurgents, and bandits. Abdullahi stressed that while presidential aides and officials may perceive improvement, the ordinary Nigerian experiences growing fear, hardship, and loss daily.
“Nigerians are still being kidnapped, attacked, and displaced. Whole communities are still at the mercy of bandits. Schools in some areas remain shut due to security threats. The picture being painted by the presidency is disconnected from reality,” he said.
The ADC called on the President to demonstrate leadership through proximity, empathy, and public engagement.
“We are urging President Tinubu to step out and walk among the people. Let him visit markets, motor parks, and IDP camps—not just attend ceremonies or rely on filtered briefings from governors and aides,” Abdullahi declared.
He said the President cannot govern effectively by relying solely on second-hand reports, especially when many are politically motivated.
As insecurity continues to dominate national discourse, the issue is expected to be a key battleground heading into the 2027 elections.
The ADC, along with other parties in the evolving opposition coalition, has consistently criticised the APC government for what it calls “propaganda over performance.”
With rising banditry in the North-West, continuing unrest in the North-Central, and unresolved tensions in the South-East, the party argues that the administration has failed to meet the security expectations of citizens.
“We owe it to Nigerians to keep speaking the truth. The President must act now. We cannot paper over this crisis,” Abdullahi concluded.