Insecurity: APC Criticises SDP Leader Over Call for Tinubu’s Resignation

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Social Democratic Party presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo clashed on Tuesday over calls for President Bola Tinubu to step down amid rising insecurity in Nigeria.

Adebayo, speaking at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025 in Abuja, aligned with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments on killings in Nigeria, claiming that the government had failed in its constitutional duty to protect lives.

“If citizens are dying in large numbers, the government has failed its primary responsibility. President Tinubu can either use the security forces to tackle terrorists or resign,” Adebayo said. He also alleged that some actors within the system benefit from the ongoing insecurity and warned against framing the crisis along religious or regional lines, describing it as a national security issue rather than a Christian-Muslim debate.

He accused the government of exploiting the security situation for financial gain while asserting that the Nigerian Armed Forces are capable of restoring order if allowed to operate professionally.

Reacting, APC Deputy National Organising Secretary Nze Chidi Duru dismissed the call for resignation as a personal opinion that does not reflect the electorate’s mandate.

“This is his view, and he is entitled to it. The President holds the mandate of the majority of Nigerians. Only the electorate can effect such a change,” Duru said. He added that the government is aware of security challenges and is actively addressing them, stressing that progress in protecting lives and property will become increasingly visible in the coming weeks and months.

The exchange comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Washington after Trump claimed that Christian communities in Nigeria face an “existential threat,” prompting the Nigerian government to reopen discussions to clarify its position.

Meanwhile, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Prof. Yusuf Ali warned that the country’s national security policies are harming citizens, particularly vulnerable groups, instead of providing protection. Speaking at the Gavel International Annual Lecture and Awards 2025 in Lagos, he said current counter-terrorism and law enforcement strategies have deviated from constitutional safeguards, resulting in widespread violations of citizens’ rights.

“The poor, women, children, and internally displaced persons are often the unintended victims of security operations,” Ali said. He stressed that genuine security requires respect for human dignity, rule of law, and social justice, adding that force alone cannot achieve lasting peace.

Ali also criticised aspects of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, which allow prolonged detention without trial, describing them as unconstitutional and incompatible with Nigeria’s international obligations. He warned that laws meant to fight terrorism should not become tools of terror.

“Security measures must protect citizens, not turn them into victims. The Constitution exists to safeguard both peace and crisis,” he added.