ADC Warns FG Against Exploiting Coup Rumours to Silence Opposition, Undermine Democracy

The African Democratic Congress has cautioned the Federal Government against using the recent reports of an alleged coup plot as an excuse to target opposition leaders or suppress dissent.

In a statement on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, warned that manipulating the rumours for political advantage would threaten Nigeria’s democracy and endanger civil liberties.

The caution followed reports that the Defence Intelligence Agency arrested several officers ranging from Captain to Brigadier General over alleged secret meetings to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The Defence Headquarters has since dismissed the claims as false and malicious.

The ADC criticised the Federal Government’s silence despite the military’s denial, describing it as a failure that has allowed misinformation to spread and heightened public tension.

“The ADC has closely monitored reports of the alleged coup plot involving detained military officers and claims that a former southern governor is being investigated for allegedly funding the suspects” the statement read. “While we firmly reject any attempt to subvert the constitution, we are equally worried that such allegations could be weaponised to justify witch-hunts, suppress opposition or manipulate public perception.”

The party expressed concern over the conflicting messages from government agencies, noting that the Defence Headquarters had publicly denied any mention of a coup even as media reports persisted. “This inconsistency raises fears that the entire narrative might have been politically driven” the statement added.

The ADC faulted the government’s refusal to make a clear statement, accusing it of deliberately allowing the story to linger. It argued that the silence could be an attempt to distract citizens from governance failures and to generate sympathy. “The attempt to link unnamed politicians to the so-called plot could serve as a pretext to harass opposition figures or place them under undue surveillance” it said.

Condemning what it described as the ruling party’s desperation, the ADC warned that such tactics could destabilise Nigeria’s fragile democracy. It urged the government to clarify the situation immediately insisting that transparency was necessary to maintain public trust.

“If a genuine threat exists, the government must inform the nation accordingly. However, if the reports are false, it should firmly dispel the rumours instead of exploiting national security to silence dissent” the party stated.

Reaffirming its democratic stance, the ADC declared that it opposes dictatorship in any form. “We support every legitimate action to protect the constitution and democracy but we reject any plot to intimidate lawful voices under the guise of national security” Abdullahi concluded.