The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardons to several convicted criminals, including murderers, drug traffickers, and smugglers.
The party’s reaction follows the release of a list containing 175 individuals who benefitted from the presidential clemency, announced through a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday.
In a follow-up statement on Sunday, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the move as “pathetic” and “a national disgrace,” accusing the president of undermining Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.
The ADC argued that the decision contradicts Nigeria’s anti-drug stance and disrespects the efforts of security agencies, particularly the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), whose officers have risked their lives to curb the menace of drug abuse and trafficking.
According to the party, it is “an irresponsible abuse of the prerogative of mercy” to pardon convicts who have barely served two years in prison for crimes punishable by life sentences. They questioned the rationale behind granting clemency based merely on claims of “remorse” or skill acquisition.
Citing Nigeria’s high drug use rate—14.4%, nearly triple the global average—the ADC warned that Tinubu’s action could worsen the country’s image internationally and embolden traffickers who now perceive Nigeria as lenient toward narcotics-related crimes.
The statement concluded that with such pardons, the Tinubu administration is eroding moral standards and promoting a culture of impunity. The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to rescuing Nigeria from what it described as a government that values power and privilege over justice and accountability.
