The Presidency on Saturday described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a party struggling to retain “coherence and balance” following its recently concluded national convention.
The reaction was issued by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in response to criticism from the ADC’s National Legislators Serving and Former Forum. The group had faulted the President over remarks in which he referred to the convention as “noise and a street convention”.
The ADC recently held its national convention at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja, despite what it described as a last-minute attempt to obstruct the gathering.
The forum, led by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje, argued that Nigeria is at a critical point in its democratic journey and accused the administration of narrowing political space, according to reports by Vanguard.
The group also recalled Tinubu’s earlier role as an opposition figure who championed political pluralism and judicial independence, stating that his present leadership stance appears inconsistent with those ideals.
In response, Dare, in a detailed statement shared on Saturday via X, said the ADC was experiencing “internal disarray”.
The statement, titled ‘WHAT’S THAT NOISE! Response to Hon. Nnenna Elendu Ukeje and the ADC Forum of National Legislators- Nigeria’s latest bunch of conspiracy theorists’, criticised the party’s position.
“Even before the official commencement of the election season and before the Polls open, the “opposition”, a hurriedly stitched together contraption in search of a launch pad are screaming blue murder.
“The script is familiar: attack and blackmail the President, discredit and second guess the electoral process and hold Press briefings to flaunt unsubstantiated allegations and lies against the administration.
“All of these so that the international community will “help” them. In Honorable Nnenna, the ADC legislators found someone fit for the role. As former chair, foreign affairs committee, 7th and 8th House of Representatives she was their best voice.
“Sadly, ADC will need more than the sophistry and phonetics in her delivery. Let’s begin to tear apart her claims and that of her ADC Forum. The so-called ADC National Legislators Coalition delivered an outing remarkably full of theatrics but expectedly short on substance, restraint, and constitutional fidelity.
“What Nigerians just witnessed from the ADC motley crowed is not a principled defense of democracy, but a calculated attempt to weaponize rhetoric, manufacture outrage, and distract from internal disarray within a political party struggling to maintain coherence and balance. Ironically, the ADC press conference began on a note of truth.
“In their own words, they painstakingly chronicled the democratic credentials of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—his historic role in strengthening opposition politics, expanding democratic space, defending pluralism, and standing firm even under military and authoritarian pressures. “They reminded Nigerians that he mobilized resistance, nurtured political contestation, and remained a central pillar in sustaining democratic governance.
“On that point, they were correct and that is because they could not change that solid democratic foundation and narrative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Let’s give them some acknowledgement for stating it plainly. But having established those facts, they took a curious turn—attempting, without evidence, to portray the very same individual as a threat to the democratic values he has consistently upheld.
“That contradiction is not just weak—it is intellectually untenable. A leader’s record is not a switch that flips overnight. The same discipline, convictions, and democratic instincts that defined President Bola Tinubu’s political journey have not suddenly evaporated.
“You cannot spend the first half of a press conference affirming a man’s lifelong commitment to democracy, and the second half alleging—without proof—that he has abandoned it. It simply does not hold.
“On the specific issue that triggered this reaction: the President did not mention the ADC—by name or by implication. His remarks were general, as is consistent with his style as a national leader addressing a broad audience.”
Dare added that the ADC’s interpretation of the remarks suggests self-indictment, noting that if the description of “noise” resonates, it may reflect the party’s conduct rather than the President’s statement.
“This is not a matter of suppression; it is a matter of standards.
“Democracy thrives on competition, yes—but it also demands organisation, coherence, and credibility. Disorder cannot be rebranded as authenticity simply because it occurs in public. The allegations regarding judicial interference are equally speculative and irresponsible.
“Nigeria’s judiciary remains constitutionally independent, and no amount of conjecture can substitute for evidence. Attempting to cast doubt on the integrity of the courts based on political disagreements is a dangerous path—one that weakens institutions rather than protects them.”