ADC Criticizes APC’s Governance on Democracy Day
The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong critique of the current administration, highlighting what it perceives as a lack of effective solutions to the nation’s pressing challenges. On this year’s Democracy Day, the party released an open letter titled “Where Is Democracy? ADC’s Open Letter to Nigerians on Democracy Day,” authored by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. The letter directly addresses the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of offering only empty promises and excuses instead of actionable governance.
The ADC argues that the APC government has failed to address the deepening crises of insecurity and rising living costs. In the letter, the party states: “This APC government has no solution to insecurity. All they have is condolence messages and empty threats to bandits and criminals. They have no solution to the cost of living crisis that is taking away your dignity. All they have is propaganda and more promises of a better life in the future.”
The ADC describes the current state of the nation as a “Hobbesian reality,” where families are abandoning villages and schools due to insecurity, and citizens struggle to survive amid soaring prices for food, energy, and essential services. While the APC frequently highlights macroeconomic reforms as signs of progress, the ADC counters that these figures mean little to ordinary Nigerians who cannot afford basic necessities such as food, transportation, or healthcare.
“Nigerians do not live inside economic reports and global economic ratings,” the letter notes, emphasizing the disconnect between official statistics and the lived experiences of citizens.
A Vision for Change
The ADC claims that the nation’s decline is not inevitable and presents its policy framework as a credible path forward. The party proposes a shift towards intelligence-led security and a more humane approach to economic reform. This includes reducing the cost of governance, supporting small businesses, and making food security a national priority.
The ADC urges Nigerians to reject the notion that current hardships are a “necessary sacrifice.” Instead, the party demands a government that prioritises transparency, accountability, and the tangible well-being of its citizens over political rhetoric. It also dismisses the government’s call for patience, arguing that the ruling party is merely seeking an “opportunity to do more damage” while enjoying “obscene luxury and excesses.”
Redefining Democracy
The ADC emphasizes that democracy should be measured by tangible improvements in the daily lives of citizens—specifically in their safety, economic stability, and overall quality of life—rather than by the mere passage of time since the transition to civilian rule.
In its letter, the ADC reflects on the significance of June 12, which marks one of the most important dates in Nigerian history. It serves as a reminder that the Nigerian people have always believed in the power of their voices and the importance of their votes. The party stresses that democracy must be more than a celebration of the past; it must also be an honest reckoning with the present.
A New Approach to Security
The ADC believes Nigeria must adopt a fundamentally different approach to security. Its policy framework recognizes that security must be intelligence-led, technology-enabled, community-informed, and locally responsive. The party advocates for greater involvement of state and local authorities in securing their communities, working in partnership with federal institutions.
It calls for better-equipped, better-coordinated, and more accountable security agencies, as well as proactive intelligence gathering. The protection of farming communities, food-producing regions, schools, transportation corridors, and critical infrastructure must become a national priority.
Economic Reform with a Human Face
Economic reform, according to the ADC, must be humane. The party pledges to bring down the cost of energy, put more money in people’s pockets, cut the cost of governance, reduce waste, simplify taxation, protect low-income earners, support small businesses, and ensure that economic growth translates into lower prices, more jobs, and higher living standards.
Food Security as a National Priority
Food security must become a national priority, the ADC asserts. A nation that cannot feed itself cannot truly prosper. The party plans to place farmers at the center of agricultural policy, expand mechanisation, revive irrigation infrastructure, strengthen food reserves, improve storage and logistics systems, and take deliberate action to reduce food inflation and protect households from sudden price shocks.
Accountability and Transparency
The ADC believes that democracy must be accountable. Government spending must be transparent, public institutions must work effectively, and corruption must be prevented before it occurs. The rule of law must apply equally to everyone, and elected officials must remember that public office is a trust, not an entitlement.
To achieve this, the ADC will strengthen transparency, publish legislative voting records, reform electoral administration, and restore public confidence in the institutions of our democracy.
