The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has accused the President Bola Tinubu-led government of failing to tackle insecurity, saying the confession of the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has exposed the ruling party’s lack of confidence in its ability to secure the country.
The ADC-PCC was reacting to Yari’s reported comment that “If Buhari, who is a retired military man, could not wipe out insecurity, what can Tinubu do?”
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan ok Tuesday, the council described the remark as an admission of failure by a senior APC figure responsible for promoting Tinubu’s re-election bid.
It questioned why the ruling party should seek another four-year mandate when, according to the opposition campaign council, it had yet to address one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government: protecting lives and property.
“For a party that has been in power for nearly 12 years, this is a shocking admission of failure. Rather than inspire confidence in Nigerians, the statement from the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council reinforces the growing perception that the ruling party has run out of ideas and has no credible answers to the nation’s security challenges,” the statement read in part.
The ADC-PCC said Nigerians continued to contend with banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and killings, while communities remained vulnerable and families lived in fear.
It argued that Yari’s reported remark raised questions about the APC’s capacity to offer a convincing security plan ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“Now, the APC’s own campaign chief appears to be asking Nigerians to accept that if a former military Head of State could not defeat insecurity, there is little President Tinubu can do. This is not the language of a party offering hope; it is an expression of helplessness from a party seeking another mandate,” the council said.
The opposition campaign body also challenged the APC to explain why Nigerians should renew its mandate despite persistent security concerns and economic hardship.
“How can the APC ask Nigerians to renew its mandate when its own campaign leadership is raising doubts about the capacity of its presidential candidate to tackle insecurity?” it asked.
The council maintained that Nigeria needed leadership willing to take responsibility for the security situation rather than offer explanations for its persistence.
It urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the political will to protect citizens, improve coordination among security agencies, strengthen intelligence gathering and provide security personnel with adequate equipment and welfare support.
The ADC-PCC also presented its presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, as an alternative to the APC, claiming he had the experience and policy direction required to address the country’s security and economic challenges.
According to the council, Atiku’s proposed approach includes strengthening the security architecture, investing in modern policing, deploying technology and intelligence-led operations, and creating employment opportunities for young people to address some of the socioeconomic factors that contribute to criminality.
The campaign council stressed that insecurity could not be resolved through political promises alone, arguing that sustained investment, effective coordination and competent leadership were necessary to achieve lasting results.
It called on Nigerians to consider the country’s security record when deciding whether to support the APC for another term in 2027.
“The choice before Nigerians is clear: continue with a party whose record on insecurity has attracted widespread criticism, or support a credible alternative committed to rescuing the country, restoring public confidence and making the protection of lives and property a national priority,” the statement further read.
The ADC-PCC urged voters to demand clear and practical commitments from the parties, insisting that Nigerians deserved a country where safety was treated as a priority rather than an unfulfilled promise.
Nigeria’s security challenges have remained a major issue in political debate, with terrorism and banditry in parts of the North, kidnapping and attacks on communities continuing to fuel public concern.
The APC, which has governed the country since 2015, is seeking to retain power in the 2027 general election, while opposition parties are positioning security, economic recovery and public welfare as key issues for the campaign.