The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the recent U.S. bombing of terrorist targets in Sokoto State, describing the development as symptomatic of Tinubu-led government’s incompetence in tackling insurgency in the country.
As an anomaly, the action can only be justified in the context of the historic incompetence of the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in dealing with the nation’s security challenges,” ADC national publicity secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said in a statement on Friday.
“This is what happens when a government behaves as though governance is all about revenue collection and all other issues, including national security and diplomacy, could be treated as an afterthought.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, on Thursday, announced on his social media pages that the American military carried out a series of airstrikes against terrorist targets in the North-Western state. Hours after, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement confirming the operation.
The ADC blamed governance failure for the foreign military operations, warning it could undermine the country’s long-term strategic interests.
“What we see is that President Tinubu has outsourced his most important constitutional responsibility, effectively taking a back seat in a vehicle he is constitutionally assigned to drive,” the party said.
While supporting all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security, the opposition party stated that desperation should not compromise national sovereignty.
It added, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) recognises the serious security challenges confronting Nigeria and affirms that the protection of Nigerian lives and the defeat of terrorism must remain a central national priority.
“It is in this context that we accept the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes on ‘terrorist locations’ in Sokoto State on Thursday, December 25, 2025, only as a desperate measure that must not be allowed to substitute for a Nigeria-led action.”
The ADC also faulted the manner in which Nigerians were informed of the development, noting that the first public information came from the U.S.
“The Nigerian government has said it played a collaborative role by providing intelligence. In other words, Nigeria merely acted as an informant in an operation it should have led.
“The ADC warns that there is a difference between strategic collaboration and myopic surrender, which is ultimately counterproductive to national security and inimical to Nigeria’s long-term sovereign interests,” the party warned.
