The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Federal Government to immediately clarify the circumstances surrounding an alleged coup plot involving a group of detained military officers.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it views any threat to Nigeria’s democratic order with “the utmost seriousness” but expressed concern that the issue could be politically manipulated to stifle opposition and dissent.
According to the ADC, it has been closely monitoring media reports linking the arrested officers to a supposed coup attempt, as well as unverified claims that a former southern governor is under investigation for allegedly funding the suspects.
“While we vehemently oppose any effort to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order, we are equally worried about the potential misuse of such allegations to justify political witch-hunts, suppress dissent, or manipulate public sentiment,” the statement read.
The party also criticized what it described as “conflicting signals” from government sources. It noted that while media reports alleged a coup plot, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) publicly denied ever making such a claim — a contradiction the ADC says raises “serious fears that the coup narrative may have been politically engineered.”
Blaming the government’s silence for allowing the controversy to “fester unchecked,” the ADC accused the administration of using the coup story as a distraction from governance failures and as a means to rally public sympathy.
“The federal government has not made a categorical statement on this very serious matter, even after the military authorities denied any such threat,” the statement continued. “By keeping quiet, the government has deliberately allowed the coup story to grow. What is clear, however, is that it is being used to divert attention from misgovernance and to create a pretext for intimidating opposition figures.”
The ADC warned that “the government’s desperation must not be allowed to endanger democracy or undermine the rights of citizens,” stressing that the APC-led administration must choose transparency over political theatrics.
The party therefore called on the Federal Government to disclose the full facts behind the alleged coup plot, emphasizing that if a genuine threat to national security exists, Nigerians deserve an honest and detailed briefing.
“The ADC stands firmly against dictatorship in all forms — whether military or civilian,” it said. “We support all legitimate efforts to defend our constitution and democracy, but reject any attempt to weaponize national security to silence political opposition.”
Background: Defence Headquarters Denies Coup Report
Over the weekend, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed as false and misleading an online report claiming that 16 military officers — from the ranks of Captain to Brigadier General — had been detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for plotting a coup.
The report also linked the alleged plot to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations, suggesting the decision was made in response to the supposed conspiracy.
In a statement released by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the DHQ described the publication as “malicious” and intended to sow “tension and distrust” among Nigerians.
The military clarified that the Independence Day parade was canceled to allow President Bola Tinubu to attend an international engagement and to help troops sustain focus on ongoing operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
The DHQ further explained that the detained officers are undergoing a routine internal investigation aimed at maintaining discipline and professionalism, and assured the public that the panel’s findings would be made public once completed.
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