A heated exchange erupted yesterday between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following attacks by the APC on top opposition figures and criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The APC criticized key ADC figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai, and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi—calling them “Nigeria’s most confused, clueless, rudderless and pitiful gang of opposition elements.” The ruling party warned Nigerians against politicians who “weaponised ethnicity and religion, seeking to upend the presidential rotational principle between the north and south.”
In a swift reply, the ADC accused President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms of being “heartless,” while the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) dismissed APC’s attacks on Peter Obi as mere distractions.
El-Rufai’s Political Decline Needs Forensic Study
The APC described el-Rufai’s “infantile politics” as the real threat to Nigeria’s progress, saying his rapid fall from political influence is worthy of “forensic analysis.” The party linked his decline to a failed ministerial appointment attempt.
“His speedy fall from commanding heights to the political clown he has become needs forensic study,” said APC spokesman Felix Morka.
The APC also condemned el-Rufai’s comments at a Sokoto meeting on August 2, 2025, where he called the Tinubu administration “incompetent, clannish and undeserving of a second term,” labeling it “yet another outburst of a waspish politician.”
“It is now clear to all Nigerians that El-Rufai and his cohorts in ADC are on a mission to upend the presidential rotational principle designed to promote national unity and cohesion in the country through the imposition of Atiku as presidential candidate of ADC in the middle of a southern presidency rotation.
“It was Atiku’s selfish and obdurate refusal to respect the rotation principle during the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential primary election that directly resulted in PDP’s virtual cremation.
“El-Rufai and Atiku want to do to Nigeria what Atiku did to PDP. El-Rufai, and Atiku’s hijack of ADC constitutes a clear and present threat to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria,” the party stated.
The APC added that el-Rufai and his ADC partners “are the most confused, clueless, rudderless and pitiful opposition politicians our country has ever known.
“They bring nothing to the political table except their oversized ego, wild entitlement mentality, obscene desperation and predatory presidential ambitions.”
Regarding policy, the APC said el-Rufai and others have “not presented and cannot present policy prescriptions with potential for more effectiveness than those already being implemented by the Tinubu administration, with strong indicators of success.”
“All three major contestants in the 2023 presidential election campaigned to remove fuel subsidy and harmonise multiple foreign exchange regimes in recognition of the urgency and seriousness of the country’s economic challenges.
“Upon his election and inauguration, President Tinubu swiftly implemented policy reforms as he promised. After their crushing defeat at the polls, Atiku and Obi, seemingly, recanted their policy reform positions in order to justify sitting shamelessly at the table of hypocrisy and hurling invectives at President Tinubu and APC for implementing reform policies they also promised Nigerians.
“If el-Rufai and his cohorts detest the administration’s policy reforms as much as they claim, why have they not presented policy proposals to restore fuel subsidy as it was and return the country to the ruinous era of fixing naira’s value and operating multiple foreign exchange regimes that fed the greedy and insatiable appetite of the likes of El-Rufai, Atiku, Obi and Rotimi Amaechi for decades?
“The rejection of el-Rufai as a minister cannot justify his allegation of clannishness against the administration. A senseless claim like that can only come from someone who haughtily equates his selfish interest with the interest of an entire ethnic nationality.
“President Tinubu is easily one of the most detribalised and patriotic Nigerians alive. No tribe, ethnic or religious group has been sidelined as el-Rufai wants Nigerians to believe.
“For a former governor who left a sordid legacy of obnoxious marginalisation of ethnic and religious minorities in Southern Kaduna; who weaponised demolitions against innocent citizens; and hung a debt profile of N284 billion on tax payers, according to the Debt Management Office, DMO, el-Rufai is the poster child of bad governance and failed leadership.”
Tinubu’s Reforms ‘Heartless’ — ADC
Rejecting the APC’s claims, the ADC described President Tinubu’s economic reforms as “heartless,” accusing the ruling party of prioritizing international financial institutions over Nigerians.
Speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, ADC National Youth Leader Balarabe Rufai said the APC’s claim that the ADC lacks credible alternatives was unfounded. He insisted that ADC’s economic vision focuses on the welfare of ordinary Nigerians and will be based on reforms that are “organic” and “original,” tailored to Nigeria’s needs rather than dictated by external financial bodies.
“The present administration’s reforms are heartless. They are just prescriptions from the Bretton Woods organizations that have no concern for Nigerian citizens,” Rufai said.
He explained that ADC’s reform strategy will rest on four pillars: “consistency, ownership, purpose, and strategy.”
Rufai also criticized the APC-led government’s aggressive tax policies, accusing it of ignoring the plight of Nigerians living in poverty.
“In a country where your statistical authority has publicly stated that 133 million people, almost 60 to 70 percent of the population, are in poverty, and you keep taxing that population, it means the government is heartless and insensitive to the needs of the people,” he said.
He revealed that major political figures such as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar are aligning with the ADC.
“Peter Obi is coming to the ADC. Atiku Abubakar is coming to the ADC, and they are going to work with the ADC. If they have other plans, they will have to leave their plans and go with the plans of the ADC,” Rufai stated.
On concerns about the party undermining the North-South presidential rotation, Rufai dismissed such claims, saying ADC’s priority is to reform Nigeria’s democratic processes, especially party primaries.
“In the ADC, most particularly in the youth wing, we will make sure that delegates have become valueless. Godfatherism also will not work in the ADC,” he asserted.
He added: “We don’t really care who becomes the presidential flagbearer. What we care for is for anybody that emerges to have a smooth running, not burdened with needless loans or the need to settle delegates.”
APC’s Attacks on Peter Obi Are Diversionary — CUPP
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also weighed in, accusing the APC of using attacks on Peter Obi to distract from its poor governance record.
National Secretary Chief Peter Ameh said: “The recent statement by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Mouka, alleging that Mr. Peter Obi has ‘nothing to offer Nigeria’ and accusing him of hypocrisy is a gross misrepresentation of facts and a desperate attempt to discredit a proven leader.
“Contrary to these unfounded claims, Peter Obi’s record as a public servant and his policy positions remain steadfast, clear, and focused on uplifting Nigerians from multidimensional poverty.
“Peter Obi has consistently advocated reducing government waste, enhancing transparency, and implementing reforms with safeguards to protect vulnerable citizens.
“His stance on fuel subsidy removal, for instance, has always emphasised the need for strategic measures to mitigate its impact on Nigerians, unlike the abrupt and poorly managed approach of the current administration, which has deepened poverty and hardship.
“It is disheartening that the APC, rather than addressing pressing challenges, chooses to expend energy on smear campaigns against opposition leaders.
“Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented economic difficulties, yet the ruling party has little to show for its two years in office.”
