The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly withdraw his controversial “All Is Fair in Politics” remark.
According to the party, such comments could encourage political violence and threaten the peace and stability of the country ahead of the 2027 general election.
The council also expressed concern over what it described as the President’s silence on inflammatory statements allegedly made by some governors and chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the Presidency of applying double standards in its response to political violence.
The ADC-PCC made the demands in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, in which it urged Tinubu to demonstrate the statesmanship expected of a national leader by promoting peaceful political engagement across the country.
The council said the President’s remark was inappropriate, particularly at a time when political tensions were rising and opposition supporters were allegedly facing attacks in different parts of the country.
According to the statement, “President Tinubu cannot claim to desire peace when his own words provide cover for violence.
“‘All Is Fair in Politics’ is not the language of a Head of State. It is the language of political desperation and an open licence for thuggery, ballot snatching, intimidation and bloodshed.”
The ADC-PCC alleged that opposition gatherings and supporters had come under attack in several states, including Edo, Cross River, Gombe, Lagos, Kebbi and Kaduna.
It further accused suspected APC supporters of destroying campaign materials and brutalising opposition supporters, alleging that the President had failed to call members of his party to order despite the incidents.
“From Edo to Cross River, Gombe to Lagos, and Kebbi to Kaduna, Nigerians have witnessed attacks on opposition gatherings, destruction of campaign materials and the brutalisation of innocent supporters, allegedly by APC-sponsored thugs.
“Yet, Mr. President has not considered it necessary to call his governors and party members to order,” the statement added.
The opposition council also criticised the Presidency’s response to allegations of political violence, claiming that President Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, had focused on cautioning opposition parties rather than addressing allegations against members of the ruling party.
It accused the Presidency of blaming victims of political attacks while preaching restraint to opposition parties, instead of condemning those allegedly responsible for the violence.
The council subsequently challenged Tinubu to explain why his condemnation of political violence appeared to be directed more at opposition parties than members of his own political camp.
“Why has Mr. President refused to condemn APC governors who openly threaten opposition supporters? Why has he remained silent over public incitement by officials of his party? Why is his anger always directed at the opposition and never at those within his own political fold?” it queried.
The ADC-PCC maintained that it remained committed to peaceful and issue-based political engagement, insisting that its campaign ahead of the 2027 general election would focus on addressing Nigeria’s major challenges.
It listed hunger, insecurity, unemployment, corruption and what it described as the failures of the Tinubu administration among the issues requiring urgent attention.
The council also accused the APC of allegedly resorting to political violence because it lacked credible solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.
As part of its demands, the ADC-PCC called on Tinubu to immediately and publicly withdraw his “All Is Fair in Politics” remark, condemn governors and party officials accused of making inflammatory statements, and direct security agencies to protect all Nigerians without political bias.
It warned that security agencies must not be allowed to become instruments of intimidation or oppression against opposition parties and their supporters.
The council also invoked the position taken by former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general election, when he declared that his presidential ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
According to the ADC-PCC, Tinubu should make a similar commitment and demonstrate through his actions that he was genuinely interested in preserving peace ahead of the 2027 elections.
“ Nigeria belongs to all of us. No political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“If former President Goodluck Jonathan could make that profound declaration in 2015, President Tinubu has no excuse not to say so and demonstrate the sincerity of his commitment to peace in 2026,” the statement said.
The council, however, insisted that it would not be intimidated by alleged attacks against its members and supporters, promising to continue its political activities peacefully.
“The ADC will not be intimidated. We will continue to campaign peacefully, and in 2027, Nigerians will have the opportunity to vote for competence, integrity and a new beginning,” Ologbondiyan added.
