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A sharp public exchange has erupted between the Presidency and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over questions surrounding the opposition party’s ideological identity, placing the ADC’s leadership under fresh political scrutiny.
The disagreement involves Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, and Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, following separate media appearances by the opposition spokesman.
Bwala, reacting via social media, accused Abdullahi of failing to clearly define the ADC’s ideological direction when questioned on two different occasions.
He argued that such ambiguity undermines the credibility of both the party and its official spokesperson.
According to Bwala, the ADC spokesman initially suggested that the party’s leadership was still deliberating on its ideological stance.
He further claimed that Abdullahi appeared unsettled and defensive when the same issue resurfaced during a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“The inability of a party spokesman to articulate ideology raises serious concerns,” Bwala said. “Either the spokesperson lacks clarity, or the party itself lacks vision.”
Bwala also extended his criticism to Abdullahi’s recently published book, The Loyalist, suggesting that readers might struggle to find intellectual depth if the author cannot clearly explain the philosophy of the political platform he represents.
In response, Abdullahi dismissed Bwala’s remarks and insisted that the ADC’s ideology is well-defined and people-focused.
He accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, arguing that its proclaimed social welfare posture does not align with the lived realities of Nigerians.
“Our ideology is straightforward,” Abdullahi said. “We believe governance should prioritise the welfare and wellbeing of citizens, not policies that deepen hardship.”
He also challenged Bwala’s authority to question his intellectual work, urging him to engage more thoughtfully before making public criticisms.
However, the presidential aide rejected Abdullahi’s explanation, arguing that what was presented amounted to a broad aspiration rather than a coherent political ideology.
He questioned why such clarity, if it truly existed, was absent during televised interviews.
“If that was truly the party’s ideology, it should have been stated clearly on air,” Bwala said. “What we are seeing instead is confusion that only misleads the public.”
The exchange has since drawn attention within political circles, reigniting debate over ideological consistency among Nigeria’s political parties as the country inches toward future electoral contests.