ADC Slams Tinubu’s Mass Pardons for Drug Traffickers and Murderers as ‘National Disgrace’
In a scathing rebuke on October 12, 2025, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—a key Nigerian opposition party—has fiercely criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant clemency to 175 convicts, including dozens convicted of drug trafficking, smuggling, murder, and other serious crimes. The move, approved last week by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and ratified at a Council of State meeting, has ignited a firestorm of backlash, with the ADC labeling it “pathetic and an act of immense national disgrace.”
The Controversy: What Sparked the Outrage?
- The Pardons in Detail: On October 10, 2025, Tinubu’s administration released a full list of beneficiaries, announced by Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga. Among the 175 recipients—comprising 2 pardoned inmates, 15 former convicts (11 deceased), 82 with clemency, and 65 with commuted sentences—are high-profile cases like Maryam Sanda (death sentence commuted for murdering her husband in 2018) and drug offenders such as Nweke Francis Chibueze (life sentence for cocaine trafficking) and Isaac Justina (reduced cannabis possession term). The presidency justified the actions based on remorse, good conduct, and historical rectifications (e.g., posthumous pardons for nationalists like Sir Herbert Macaulay and the Ogoni Nine, including Ken Saro-Wiwa). Seven death row inmates saw their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
- ADC’s Core Accusations: In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC called the pardons an “irresponsible abuse of presidential power,” especially for offenders serving minimal time (often under two years) for life-sentence crimes. They argued it undermines Nigeria’s anti-drug war, encourages impunity, and signals to the world that the country is a “risk-free jurisdiction for traffickers in narcotics.” The party accused Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “redefining the standard of morality” and turning Nigeria into a haven where “even the worst of crimes attract no punishment.”
Broader Backlash and Calls for Reversal
The ADC isn’t alone in its fury. Other voices have amplified the criticism:
- Yoruba Union (Ìgbìn Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá): Branded the pardons a “grave miscarriage of justice” that betrays Yoruba values of integrity (Omolúàbí), warning of a future where criminals rise to power. They highlighted Tinubu’s own past U.S. forfeiture of $460,000 linked to alleged drug proceeds in 1993.
- Tinubu’s Own Aide, Josef Onoh: The Special Adviser on Policy Communication (South-East) urged reversal, calling it a “moral abdication” that normalizes predation on vulnerable youth and erodes accountability—especially for Sanda and drug convicts.
- Rep. Obi Aguocha (Labour Party): Highlighted ethnic bias, noting pardons for “drug lords and murderers” while IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu remains detained without trial, alleging systemic injustice against Igbos.
Tinubu’s Defense and Context
The presidency maintains the pardons align with constitutional powers under Section 175, aimed at mercy for reformed individuals and correcting colonial-era wrongs. Onanuga emphasized that recipients showed “remorse and learned skills,” framing it as restorative justice amid Nigeria’s overcrowded prisons. However, critics like the ADC counter that true mercy should target miscarriages of justice, not “barely served” sentences for heinous acts, potentially fueling insecurity and eroding global trust in Nigeria’s fight against narcotics.
This saga underscores deepening rifts in Nigerian politics, with opposition parties weaponizing the issue ahead of future elections. As debates rage on X and in media, will Tinubu reconsider amid the uproar? For the full beneficiary list and ADC statement, head to Naija News or Daily Trust. What’s your view—mercy or miscarriage? Drop it below. 🇳🇬