ADC demands clarity on alleged coup plot

….Warns Against Political Manipulation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Federal Government to immediately address the circulating reports of an alleged coup plot involving some arrested military officers.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it views any threat to Nigeria’s democratic system with the highest concern, while cautioning against the possible exploitation of the situation for political gain.

According to the ADC, it has been closely following developments linking certain detained officers to the purported coup and reports suggesting that a former southern governor is being investigated for allegedly funding the suspects.

While reaffirming its opposition to any attempt to subvert Nigeria’s constitutional order, the party warned that such claims could be manipulated to justify political witch-hunts, suppress dissent, or influence public opinion.

“While we stand firmly against any move to undermine Nigeria’s democracy, we are deeply concerned about the possible misuse of this narrative to target political opponents or shape public sentiment for ulterior motives,” the statement read.

The party also raised alarm over conflicting statements from government sources, noting that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) publicly denied any reference to a coup plot despite persistent media reports. “This inconsistency fuels suspicion that the entire coup narrative may have been politically motivated,” the ADC added.

The ADC criticized the federal government’s silence on the matter, describing it as a deliberate strategy to allow the speculation to grow unchecked. It further alleged that the administration might be using the narrative to distract from governance failures and court public sympathy.

“The fact that the government has not issued a clear statement, even after the military denied any coup threat, is troubling. By remaining silent, the government is allowing the story to fester for its own benefit,” the party said. “It appears this is an attempt to divert attention from pressing governance issues while laying the groundwork to harass opposition figures under the guise of national security.”

The ADC urged the Federal Government to provide Nigerians with a transparent and detailed account of the alleged plot. It insisted that if there is a genuine security threat, the public deserves a factual briefing rather than rumor-driven narratives.

“The ADC stands firmly against any form of dictatorship—military or civilian. We support all legitimate efforts to defend our constitution and democracy. However, we reject any ploy to weaponize national security as a tool for silencing dissent,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, over the weekend, dismissed as false an online report claiming that Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day events were cancelled due to an alleged coup attempt.

The DHQ explained that the decision to cancel the celebrations was to enable President Bola Tinubu’s participation in a strategic foreign engagement and to sustain the military’s focus on ongoing counterterrorism and anti-banditry operations.

In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Armed Forces described the report as “malicious and misleading,” assuring Nigerians that investigations involving the detained officers are routine internal disciplinary procedures, not related to any coup attempt.

It further stated that a panel has been constituted to review the matter and that its findings will be made public upon completion.