“What’s that Noise,” Presidency blasts ADC over fresh allegations

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Presidency has launched a scathing rebuttal against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its forum of national legislators, dismissing their recent claims as baseless and politically motivated.

In a strongly worded statement titled “What’s That Noise!”, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, accused the opposition bloc of engaging in “theatrics” and peddling unsubstantiated allegations in a bid to discredit the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Dare argued that the ADC-led coalition, which he described as “a hurriedly stitched together contraption in search of a launch pad,” had resorted to blackmail and sensationalism even before the commencement of the election season.

According to him, the opposition’s strategy follows a familiar pattern of attacking the President, undermining the electoral process, and seeking international sympathy through what he called “unsubstantiated allegations and lies.”

The presidential aide particularly criticised comments made by former lawmaker Nnenna Ukeje, stating that while the ADC initially acknowledged Tinubu’s democratic credentials, it later contradicted itself by portraying the President as a threat to democracy.

“That contradiction is not just weak, it is intellectually untenable,” Dare said, insisting that Tinubu’s long-standing record as a pro-democracy figure could not be dismissed without credible evidence.

He further dismissed claims of judicial interference as speculative, maintaining that Nigeria’s judiciary remains constitutionally independent and warning that such allegations could erode public trust in democratic institutions.

Dare also rejected attempts to link the Chief of Staff to the controversy, stressing that the President communicates clearly through established channels and that isolated remarks should not be misinterpreted for political gain.

The Presidency accused the ADC of projecting its internal challenges outward, describing the party as fragmented and lacking ideological cohesion.

“What Nigerians just witnessed from the ADC motley crowd is not a principled defence of democracy, but a calculated attempt to weaponise rhetoric, manufacture outrage, and distract from internal disarray,” the statement read.

He added that alarmist claims about democratic collapse and institutional failure were unfounded, insisting that Nigeria’s constitutional order remains intact.

The statement further took aim at the opposition coalition’s leadership, alleging a lack of unity and mutual trust among its key figures.

Dare cited past public remarks by some opposition leaders against one another as evidence of internal contradictions, arguing that the coalition was driven more by personal ambition than shared principles.

“This is not a coalition preparing to govern; it is a gathering struggling to agree, even among themselves, on who should lead,” he said.

Reaffirming the administration’s stance, the Presidency maintained that President Tinubu remains committed to democratic values, including the rule of law, judicial independence, and credible elections.

Dare urged the ADC to focus on strengthening its internal processes and presenting a viable alternative to Nigerians, rather than engaging in what he described as speculative rhetoric.

“We urge the ADC to redirect its energy inward: resolve its leadership disputes, strengthen its internal processes, and engage Nigerians with substance rather than speculation,” he said.

He called for a more responsible political discourse, stressing that Nigerians deserve leadership grounded in facts rather than “noise.”