The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly retract his controversial “All Is Fair in Politics” remark, warning that such rhetoric fuels political division, emboldens thugs and poses a grave threat to the nation’s peace and stability.

The ADC-PCC also expressed concern over what it described as the President’s disturbing silence on the conduct of some APC governors and party chieftains who have openly made inflammatory statements and allegedly encouraged political violence.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC-PCC urged President Tinubu to rise above partisan interests and demonstrate the statesmanship expected of a national leader, citing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s unequivocal declaration that no presidential ambition was worth the blood of any Nigerian.

The Council described as shocking the President’s failure to condemn the growing wave of political violence, noting that, through his spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency had instead chosen to caution opposition parties while shielding those allegedly responsible for violence within the ruling APC

“President Tinubu cannot claim to desire peace when his own words provide cover for violence.

“‘All Is Fair in Politics’ is not the language of a Head of State. It is the language of political desperation and an open licence for thuggery, ballot snatching, intimidation and bloodshed

” From Edo to Cross River, Gombe to Lagos, and Kebbi to Kaduna, Nigerians have witnessed attacks on opposition gatherings, destruction of campaign materials and the brutalisation of innocent supporters, allegedly by APC-sponsored thugs.”

Yet, Mr. President has not considered it necessary to call his governors and party members to order.

“Instead, the Presidency has resorted to diversionary tactics, blaming victims and preaching restraint to the opposition while members of the ruling party are accused of unleashing violence across the country,” the statement said.

The ADC-PCC challenged President Tinubu to explain why his condemnation of political violence appears directed at the opposition rather than members of his own party.

It asked: “Why has Mr. President refused to condemn APC governors who openly threaten opposition supporters?

Why has he remained silent over public incitement by officials of his party?

Why is his anger always directed at the opposition and never at those within his own political fold?

“The Council maintained that the ADC remains committed to peaceful, issue-based political engagement, insisting that its campaign is focused on addressing the country’s pressing challenges, including hunger, insecurity, unemployment, corruption and what it described as the failures of the Tinubu administration.

It accused the APC of resorting to violence because it had little to offer Nigerians in terms of credible solutions to the country’s problems.

Consequently, the ADC-PCC demanded that President Tinubu immediately and publicly withdraw his “All Is Fair in Politics” remark, condemn and call to order APC governors and party officials accused of inciting violence, and direct security agencies to protect all Nigerians impartially rather than allow them to become instruments of intimidation and oppression against opposition parties.

” Nigeria belongs to all of us. No political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.

“If former President Goodluck Jonathan could make that profound declaration in 2015, President Tinubu has no excuse not to say so and demonstrate the sincerity of his commitment to peace in 2026.

” The ADC will not be intimidated. We will continue to campaign peacefully, and in 2027, Nigerians will have the opportunity to vote for competence, integrity and a new beginning,” the statement added.

I have followed recent reports of violence accompanying political events in different parts of the country.

Every form of violence stands condemned. Violence should never have a place in our political campaigns as we move toward the 2027 general elections.

Our campaigns should be about issues, a contestation of ideas that promote the welfare of our people and the progress of our country.

As the leader of this country, I commit myself to a peaceful, free, and fair election, and I urge political leaders and supporters across party lines to conduct themselves responsibly.

I have said that being in different political parties or pursuing different ambitions does not make us enemies.

As Nigerians, we are members of the same household living in different rooms. Therefore, our politics must elevate human conditions and focus on national progress and development.

I want to reiterate my previous directive to the security agencies: be strict and firm against anyone who seeks to test our resolve and will to preserve public order.

Our administration is committed to an orderly and peaceful election, and all political parties and candidates should be protected and free to campaign anywhere in the country without molestation or fear for their safety.

We shall not tolerate any irresponsible conduct by politicians and their supporters.

Security agencies are therefore authorised to confront thuggery and other anti-social and anti-democratic activities with full force.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief
Federal Republic of Nigeria
November 13, 2026

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) on Friday dismissed as hypocritical and diversionary a statement by the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCC) condemning attacks on opposition parties at political gatherings.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC-PCC accused the ruling party of nurturing, funding and unleashing political violence across Nigeria since coming to power. It challenged the APC to take responsibility and call its members to order amid what it described as an escalating wave of political violence.

“The APC cannot pretend to be a victim of the very violence it has nurtured, funded and unleashed on Nigerians since it came to power,” the statement said. “From Edo to Cross River, from Gombe to Lagos, the pattern is the same: APC thugs disrupt opposition gatherings, attack innocent supporters, destroy campaign materials and then rush to the press to shed crocodile tears.”

The council accused APC governors of institutionalising violence in their states through denial of rally venues, demolition of opposition offices, targeted physical attacks and destruction of opposition vehicles. It also condemned restrictions on posters, billboards and open political activities, including the imposition of prohibitive fees.

It specifically linked the disruption of Thursday’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos to APC tactics of intimidation and sabotage.

“The disruption of Thursday’s scheduled town hall meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Lagos bears the unmistakable fingerprints of the APC. It is the same old script: orchestrate violence, intimidate the opposition, disrupt their activities and then issue public condemnations to cover up,” the ADC-PCC stated.

While opposition parties continued to engage Nigerians on issues including hunger, insecurity, unemployment, corruption and what it called the collapse of governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the council said the APC, with little to offer, had allegedly resorted to violence as its campaign strategy.

It questioned the APC’s sudden concern, recalling alleged attacks on ADC members, including destruction of billboards, disruption of rallies and physical assaults. “Where was the APC’s condemnation when our billboards were destroyed, our rallies disrupted and our members brutalised? Their sudden concern is not about peace; it is about diverting attention from their own atrocities.”

The ADC-PCC called on President Tinubu to heed the counsel of elder statesman Professor Jerry Gana and ensure political activities are conducted in peace, tolerance and democratic freedom. It said the party was compiling a comprehensive record of attacks on its members and would submit reports to relevant international judicial and human rights institutions in due course.

Dismissing the APC’s condemnation as hollow and self-serving, the council urged Nigerians not to be deceived. It reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to peaceful, issue-based campaigns and declared that neither intimidation nor alleged APC-sponsored violence would deter mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The ADC remains committed to a peaceful, issue-based campaign. We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. No amount of APC-sponsored violence will stop Nigerians from voting for competence, integrity and a new beginning in 2027,” the statement concluded.