The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of suddenly springing into action, not out of empathy or sound policy but out of fear. According to the party, the government’s latest reform promises are a direct response to the rising credibility and momentum of the newly unveiled opposition coalition.

In a strongly worded press statement released on Saturday, the ADC described the government’s new commitment to food security and export reform as “a scramble for survival,” rather than any genuine effort to address Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis.

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary and coalition spokesperson, fired the salvo while reacting to comments made by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. Onanuga had tweeted that the Tinubu administration would begin removing bottlenecks that have long hindered Nigeria’s food production and export potential.

But for the ADC, this admission was less a policy direction and more a confession.

“On Saturday, when Bayo Onanuga tweeted… he didn’t just issue a statement, he issued a confession,” the ADC said. “A confession that this government had, by design, been sitting on its hands while Nigerians starved. Now, under mounting political pressure, they want applause for doing the bare minimum?”

The party accused the APC-led government of deliberately “weaponizing poverty,” and argued that without the pressure from the opposition coalition, the ruling party would have continued to ignore the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

 “It wasn’t the hunger of hundreds of millions that moved them, it was fear. Fear of 2027. Fear that Nigerians have woken up. Fear that, with a united opposition, the 2027 election will be a clear contest between the APC and the Nigerian people.”

Abdullahi went further, saying the government’s pattern of behavior suggests it is more focused on optics than real solutions.

 “This is not a government reacting to crisis, it is a political machine managing public perception. Every move they’ve made lately is about 2027 calculations,” he added.

The ADC’s sharp criticism comes just a week after it formally unveiled its coalition with other prominent opposition leaders and political blocs. The coalition, which has been gaining traction especially among young voters and disillusioned citizens, is positioning itself as a credible alternative ahead of the next general elections.

Political analysts say the ADC’s aggressive tone may mark the beginning of a more heated opposition strategy leading into the campaign season, particularly as frustrations over food prices, unemployment, and insecurity continue to rise.

Meanwhile, the presidency has yet to officially respond to the ADC’s statement.

As Nigerians continue to navigate an economy battered by inflation and rising living costs, the ADC is urging citizens not to fall for “choreographed press releases and sudden awakenings.”

“This is not governance,” the statement concluded. “This is desperation.”