ADC Slams Tinubu Over Recent Appointments, Says Moves Are to Appease the North After ‘Years of Neglect’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing the Nigerian leader of engaging in politically motivated appointments aimed at regaining the trust of Northern Nigerians after what the party described as “years of calculated neglect.”

In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, the opposition party didn't mince words, asserting that Tinubu’s latest wave of federal appointments was less about merit and national development, and more about ethnic balancing and political survival in the face of waning support.

“The President is not fooling anyone,” the ADC declared. “These appointments are a desperate attempt to curry favor with Northern elites who feel sidelined by his early policy decisions and lopsided cabinet formation. It’s clear this administration is struggling to rebuild bridges it burned within its first year.”

While the statement didn’t name the individuals recently appointed, it referenced a pattern of strategic placements in key ministries, parastatals, and advisory positions that appear to favor Northern figures — a move the ADC claims is a reactionary step rather than a visionary strategy for national inclusion.

Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu has faced intense scrutiny over appointments widely criticized for being dominated by individuals from the South-West, particularly his home base of Lagos and its political strongholds. While the Presidency has repeatedly defended the appointments as merit-based, the ADC’s latest salvo adds to the growing narrative that regional politics continues to shape the highest levels of decision-making in the country.

The statement further warned that token appeasement would not heal national divisions, urging the president to “build a truly inclusive government that reflects the Federal Character Principle in action, not just in words.”

As Nigeria navigates a delicate political landscape marked by economic hardship, insecurity, and rising ethnic tensions, Tinubu’s balancing act appears to be drawing both applause and backlash in equal measure.

For now, the ADC’s blunt message stands as one of the strongest opposition reactions yet to Tinubu’s post-election political strategy — one that could shape how the North responds at the next ballot box.