ADC Slams Tinubu Government Over Silence on Venezuela Crisis

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Nigerian government, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of embarrassment and moral cowardice over its silence following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the United States.

In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party faulted the federal government for failing to respond more than 48 hours after the US operation. According to the ADC, Nigeria’s silence reflects fear and a troubling decline in the country’s moral authority and international relevance.

The party described the lack of official reaction as “reeking of fear,” adding that it is a clear indication Nigeria has lost its voice and standing on the global stage. The ADC argued that a country of Nigeria’s stature should be able to take principled positions on major international developments, particularly those with implications for democracy and governance.

Referencing Venezuela’s widely criticised 2024 elections, the ADC said the crisis highlights how regimes sustained by fraud and repression cannot hide behind international doctrines of sovereignty indefinitely. The party insisted that sovereignty should not be used as a shield for illegitimacy or abuse of power.

“Let’s be clear,” the statement read, “the Nigerian government’s silence has nothing to do with neutrality. It reveals a government that lacks confidence simply because it lacks integrity.”

The ADC also drew parallels between Venezuela’s situation and broader global trends, warning that the crisis should serve as a cautionary tale to dictators and election riggers everywhere. According to the party, leaders who manipulate elections and deny citizens their rights may evade accountability temporarily but will eventually be confronted by reality.

The opposition party further accused the Tinubu administration of failing to take principled stands on critical global issues, warning that Nigeria risks losing credibility as Africa’s largest democracy. It argued that ignoring international crises that expose flaws in governance and legitimacy weakens Nigeria’s moral influence.

The statement concluded by stressing that democracy must mean more than ballots and electoral rituals, noting that governments focused solely on political survival rather than the will of the people are increasingly exposed on the world stage.