ADC demands explanation from Tinubu over sudden military shake-up

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to provide clear and transparent explanations for the sweeping changes recently made in the leadership of Nigeria’s armed forces.

In a statement on Friday, the party’s national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said while the president has the constitutional authority to appoint and remove service chiefs, the abrupt nature and timing of the decision have generated public unease.

Abdullahi described the mass replacement of senior military leaders as “worrisome,” especially amid widespread rumours of an attempted coup. He said the government’s handling of the speculation has lacked clarity, veering “between deliberate obfuscation and outright confusion.”

He noted that many of the affected officers were only appointed about 28 months ago, with the outgoing chief of defence staff having served barely a year as chief of army staff before his elevation.

“This kind of decision has serious and far-reaching implications for stability within the ranks and therefore could not have been taken without strong reasons,” the statement read.

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The ADC spokesperson said the federal government owes Nigerians a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding the changes, warning that a lack of transparency could erode public confidence in the military and the administration.

“As an opposition political party, our interest remains the stability of our country and our democracy,” Abdullahi added, expressing concern that Nigeria could not afford internal instability given the recent turmoil in neighbouring Chad and other Sahel nations.

He accused the Tinubu administration of being “distracted,” saying insecurity continues to spread while the government appears preoccupied with politics rather than governance.

“Insecurity continues to spread with terrorist groups staging a comeback in some parts of the country, while bandits reign supreme in others,” Abdullahi said. “The near-total overhaul of military leadership risks fuelling more speculation and conspiracy theories.”

The ADC reaffirmed its call for the government to address Nigerians openly about the situation and provide assurances that the nation’s democracy and territorial integrity remain secure.

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