The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to tackle insecurity bedeviling many parts of the country.
It specifically asserted that the recent remark attributed to Senator Abdulaziz Yari has exposed the ruling party’s inability to offer Nigerians a credible solution to the security crisis.
The campaign council said Yari’s reported question about President Bola Tinubu’s ability to end insecurity amounted to an admission of failure by the ruling party.
Yari, the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, was quoted as saying during a campaign tour, “If Buhari, who is a retired military man, could not wipe out insecurity, what can Tinubu do?”
Reacting in a statement signed on Tuesday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC-PCC described the remark as a damning assessment of the APC government by a senior figure responsible for promoting Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The council questioned why the APC should seek another presidential mandate when it had yet to address insecurity, which it described as one of the government’s fundamental responsibilities.
“For a party that has been in power for nearly 12 years, this is a shocking admission of failure. Rather than inspire confidence in Nigerians, the statement from the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council reinforces the growing perception that the ruling party has run out of ideas and has no credible answers to the nation’s security challenges,” the statement said.
The ADC-PCC said Nigerians continued to face banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and killings despite years of promises by successive governments.
It added that many communities remained vulnerable to attacks, leaving families fearful for their safety and livelihoods.
The council argued that Yari’s reported remarks suggested that the APC’s own campaign leadership had doubts about Tinubu’s ability to address the security crisis.
It also challenged the ruling party to explain why Nigerians should grant it another four years in office despite persistent insecurity and economic hardship.
“How can the APC ask Nigerians to renew its mandate when its own campaign leadership is raising doubts about the capacity of its presidential candidate to tackle insecurity?” the council asked.
The ADC-PCC insisted that Nigeria needed leaders who would accept responsibility for the country’s security challenges and develop practical solutions rather than offer excuses for the situation.
It further presented the ADC’s presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, as a credible alternative to the APC, claiming that he had a practical vision for national security, economic recovery and national cohesion.
According to the council, Atiku’s proposed approach to insecurity includes strengthening the country’s security architecture, investing in modern policing, deploying technology and intelligence-driven operations, and creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The campaign council maintained that addressing insecurity required effective coordination among security agencies, adequate equipment, improved intelligence gathering and sustained investment in the welfare and capacity of security personnel.
It urged Nigerians to consider the APC’s security record ahead of the next presidential election, arguing that the country could not afford another four years of insecurity and uncertainty.
“The choice before Nigerians is clear: continue with a party whose record on insecurity has attracted widespread criticism, or support a credible alternative committed to rescuing the country, restoring public confidence and making the protection of lives and property a national priority,” the statement added.
The ADC-PCC added that Nigerians deserved a change in direction, urging voters to support Atiku’s bid to provide what it described as a more secure and affordable country.
