By Achile Danjuma
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over recent remarks where he likened political competition to a “game,” accusing him of trivializing the severe challenges facing Nigerians and questioning his commitment to democratic principles.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party took issue with the President’s comments made during an Iftar meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). According to reports from the meeting, President Tinubu, while defending his swift assent to the controversial Electoral Act 2026, told the opposition to stop complaining and meet him at the polls, concluding that “the game is sweet only if you are winning” .
The ADC described the President’s reaction as “cynical,” stating that it makes a “mockery of democratic participation and reduces the serious business of government to a mere ‘game’.” In the statement, the party said the comment raises serious questions about his understanding of leadership at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with rising violence, unemployment, and widespread poverty.
“For a sitting President presiding over a country facing deep economic hardship and widespread insecurity, this remark is not only cynical, it is profoundly troubling,” the statement read in part. “Democracy is not a contest to be enjoyed by those in power; it is a system of governance built on accountability, respect for institutions, and responsibility to the people.”
The ADC’s criticism extended to the newly signed Electoral Act 2026, which the party alleges is designed to “further emasculate the opposition” and create a pathway to one-party rule . The party rejected provisions that mandate direct primaries for candidate selection and allow for manual collation of results as a backup to electronic transmission, arguing these are loopholes for manipulation .
“The President may go ahead and award himself victory over the political game, but there is no doubt that he is failing woefully in the game that matters most: providing leadership and improving the lives of citizens,” the ADC stated.
The party directly challenged the President’s self-characterization as a democrat, alleging his actions demonstrate “more totalitarian tendencies than most dictators.” It asked pointedly whether Nigerians feel they are winning when communities are attacked, graduates cannot find jobs, and families cannot afford food.
In response to the opposition’s criticism, the Presidency has previously defended the Electoral Act. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused opposition parties, including the ADC, of turning “irresponsible political statements into an art form” and misrepresenting the Act’s provisions . He argued that the law closes loopholes the opposition sought to exploit and that the provision for manual backup is a safeguard against technical failures .
Following the Iftar meeting, President Tinubu also addressed concerns about his democratic credentials directly, describing himself as a “die-hard democrat.” He explained that his assent to the bill was out of respect for the legislative process and the principle of rule of law, noting that overriding the National Assembly’s overwhelming majority could have thrown the country into “turmoil of argument” .
“I’m a die-hard democrat, and I follow that belief wholeheartedly, committed to a united country, Nigeria. That principle and that philosophy will live and die with me,” President Tinubu was quoted as saying .
The exchange highlights the escalating political tension ahead of the 2027 elections. Opposition parties, including the ADC and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have vowed to challenge the Electoral Act and have called for a fresh amendment to remove provisions they view as undemocratic .
They have also raised alarms over a wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which they argue is weakening legislative opposition and consolidating power .