- Dare also rejected claims of executive interference in governance
- He said the administration remains committed to preserving democratic values
- He insisted that Tinubu did not specifically mention the ADC in his comments
The presidency has strongly responded to criticism from the African Democratic Congress over recent remarks by Bola Tinubu describing the party’s convention as “noise” and a “street convention.”
In a statement released on Saturday, Eko Hot Blog reports that the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the opposition had deliberately misrepresented the President’s comments in an attempt to create unnecessary political controversy.
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The reaction followed a press conference in Abuja by the ADC National Legislators Serving and Former Forum, where members of the party condemned Tinubu’s remarks and warned against what they described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democratic space.
The forum, led by former House of Representatives member Nnenna Ukeje, argued that the country was entering a sensitive political period and accused the administration of actions capable of weakening democratic institutions.
The group also pointed to Tinubu’s history as a former opposition figure who once championed political pluralism and judicial independence, claiming that his present posture appears inconsistent with the ideals he previously defended.
But Dare dismissed the allegations, describing the opposition coalition as a group seeking relevance through conspiracy claims and political theatrics.
According to him, the pattern has become predictable, with opposition figures attacking the President, questioning the electoral process and making what he called baseless allegations to gain public sympathy.
He insisted that Tinubu did not specifically mention the ADC in his comments, arguing that the opposition’s decision to interpret the statement as a direct attack revealed more about the party’s own internal concerns.
Dare said if the description appeared to fit the ADC, then the issue was not with the President’s remarks but with how the party viewed its own convention.
Addressing concerns about democratic decline, the presidential aide maintained that Nigeria’s institutions remain functional and independent.
He stressed that the judiciary continues to operate within its constitutional mandate and warned against attempts to undermine public confidence in the courts without credible evidence.
Dare also rejected claims of executive interference in governance, insisting that the President communicates through official channels and remains committed to transparency in public affairs.
He further accused the opposition of projecting its internal disagreements onto the federal government instead of resolving its own leadership and organisational challenges.
According to him, some parties within the opposition are struggling with unity and have chosen to blame the administration rather than build a credible alternative for Nigerians.
The presidential spokesman argued that democracy cannot be sustained through repeated press conferences and political accusations alone, but through discipline, organisation and genuine public engagement.
He said the administration remains committed to preserving democratic values and urged opposition parties to focus on strengthening their platforms instead of spreading what he described as alarmist narratives.
Dare concluded by reaffirming Tinubu’s democratic credentials, saying the President has consistently respected the rule of law, due process and the independence of state institutions both in opposition and in government.
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