The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has openly condemned President Bola Tinubu‘s recent decision to pardon a significant number of individuals convicted for drug trafficking and smuggling offenses.
According to ADC’s national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, this move is “disgraceful and a source of national shame,” warning that it undermines Nigeria’s efforts to combat drug-related crimes, encourages illegal activities, and tarnishes the country’s image on the global stage.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also voiced strong disapproval, describing the pardons as reckless and irresponsible, especially given that they include individuals convicted of grave offenses such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption.
In an official release, Abdullahi criticized the use of the presidential prerogative of mercy in this instance as a blatant abuse of authority, noting that many beneficiaries had served only a small portion of their life sentences.
“Public information suggests that the main criteria for receiving clemency for serious crimes-ranging from drug trafficking and arms smuggling to homicide-appear to be mere expressions of remorse and acquisition of some vocational skills,” he stated.
The ADC underscored that pardons are traditionally intended to promote social justice, rectify judicial mistakes, or reward convicts who have fully compensated their debt to society.
“We question the tangible advantages Nigeria gains by granting clemency to inmates sentenced to life imprisonment who have barely spent two years incarcerated,” the party added.
The opposition further highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing struggle as a major transit point for illicit drugs, compounded by a growing drug abuse epidemic, particularly among young people.
“Research estimates that drug use in Nigeria stands at approximately 14.4 percent, nearly three times the global average of 5.5 percent,” Abdullahi pointed out.
He commended the tireless work of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies, who risk their lives to dismantle drug syndicates, intercept illegal shipments, prosecute offenders, and secure convictions-only to witness these criminals released prematurely through presidential pardons.
“These brave officers operate under immense pressure to protect the public from the devastating consequences of addiction, trafficking, and related crimes, which carry some of the harshest penalties in Nigerian law due to their detrimental effects on public health, youth development, and national security,” Abdullahi explained.
“Granting clemency to those convicted under such stringent laws undermines Nigeria’s legal and moral stance against narcotics and disrespects the valiant efforts of law enforcement personnel combating drug-related offenses.”
He also cautioned that these pardons erode Nigeria’s standing with international partners in the global fight against drug trafficking, fostering a misleading perception that the country, under President Tinubu’s leadership, is lenient toward drug offenders and a haven for traffickers.
Abdullahi concluded that this sweeping pardon marks a disturbing departure from Nigeria’s ethical standards, with the ruling APC and President Tinubu effectively normalizing impunity for serious crimes.
“This administration seems to be transforming Nigeria into a nation where even the most egregious offenses result in minimal consequences, allowing offenders to ‘show remorse’ and reintegrate swiftly without facing appropriate punishment,” he asserted.
Atiku: Tinubu’s Pardons Foster a Culture of Lawlessness
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed grave concern over the widespread backlash triggered by the recent presidential pardons, arguing that they weaken the justice system and encourage criminal conduct.
He emphasized that nearly 30 percent of those pardoned were convicted on drug-related offenses, a figure he found deeply troubling.
In a statement on X, Atiku remarked, “The presidential pardon is a solemn constitutional instrument designed to balance justice with mercy and demonstrate the state’s compassion. When applied judiciously, it strengthens the integrity of the justice system and fosters public confidence in governance.”
“Regrettably, the recent clemency extended by the Tinubu administration has had the opposite effect. Pardoning individuals convicted of serious crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption diminishes the sanctity of justice and sends a disturbing message to Nigerians and the international community about the principles this government upholds,” he added.
Atiku described it as both shocking and indefensible that the presidency would prioritize leniency for offenders whose actions have directly threatened national security and social stability, especially amid Nigeria’s ongoing battles with rising insecurity, moral decay, and escalating drug problems.
“It is particularly alarming that 29.2 percent of the pardoned individuals were drug offenders, at a time when narcotics continue to devastate our youth and damage Nigeria’s global reputation,” he stated.
He also highlighted the irony that this act of clemency comes from a President whose own record is clouded by unresolved allegations involving the forfeiture of substantial sums linked to drug investigations in the United States.
“This context makes it unsurprising that the current administration displays a troubling tolerance for those connected to criminal enterprises,” Atiku observed.
“A presidential pardon should represent redemption and moral rehabilitation. Instead, what we have witnessed is a degradation of the criminal justice system, a betrayal of victims, a demoralization of law enforcement, and a profound wound to the nation’s conscience.”
He stressed that clemency must never be conflated with complicity, warning that when a government absolves offenders of crimes it claims to fight, it undermines its moral authority and fosters lawlessness.
“Nigeria deserves leadership that upholds justice, not one that diminishes it,” Atiku concluded.