ADC Demands President Tinubu’s Immediate Return Following Deadly Maiduguri Bombings; Slams Administration for Prioritizing Politics Over Security

The ADC party slams President Tinubu for being abroad during the deadly Maiduguri bombings. Read their demand for a shift from politics to security.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 8:54 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Maiduguri Rocked by Coordinated Lethal Explosions

The city of Maiduguri, Borno State, is reeling from a series of devastating bomb explosions that occurred on Monday night, March 16, 2026. Preliminary reports confirm that at least 23 people were killed and dozens more injured in the blasts, marking a violent interruption to the relative stability the region had recently maintained. The attack has sparked national outrage and reignited fears that the insurgency, once thought to be contained, is regaining the capacity for high-profile coordinated strikes against civilian targets. Security personnel and first responders have been praised for their swift action in restoring calm, but the psychological impact on the "City of Peace" remains profound.

ADC Condemns Presidential Absence During National Crisis

In a formal statement released on March 17, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) expressed deep sympathy for the victims while simultaneously launching a fierce political critique of the Tinubu administration. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, argued that the President's current location outside the country during such a significant breach of national security is "troubling." The party maintains that the gravity of the Maiduguri bombings demands the "undivided attention" of the Commander-in-Chief, asserting that leadership requires presence during moments of national mourning and crisis.

Opposition Accuses Security Chiefs of Political Distraction

The ADC’s critique extended beyond the President, targeting the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Defence for allegedly focusing on the APC’s internal "politics of self-succession." The opposition party claimed that while soldiers and civilians are being killed, high-ranking security officials are more concerned with planning the APC national convention than addressing the resurgence of terrorism. Abdullahi specifically slammed the administration’s rhetoric toward bandits and the perceived targeting of opposition figures, describing these actions as a "dangerous distraction" that is actively costing Nigerian lives.