The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the recent presidential pardons granted to 175 convicted criminals, including drug traffickers and smugglers, describing the move as a “national disgrace.”
In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party condemned the clemency, arguing that it undermines Nigeria’s ongoing fight against drug abuse and related crimes. The party said the decision sends a wrong message to both the international community and law enforcement officers risking their lives daily in the war against drugs.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) finds as pathetic and an act of immense national disgrace the recent presidential pardon and clemency granted to several convicted criminals by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.
According to the party, most of those pardoned had not spent up to two years of their sentences despite being convicted for offences that attract severe penalties, including life imprisonment. The ADC questioned the criteria used by the federal government in selecting the beneficiaries, suggesting that the exercise lacked transparency and due process.
The opposition also dismissed the government’s explanation that the pardoned individuals had shown remorse and acquired vocational skills while in prison. Abdullahi argued that remorse alone should not be a basis for early release in cases involving serious crimes such as drug trafficking, which continue to damage the social and economic fabric of the country.
He warned that such actions could weaken public confidence in the justice system and demoralize agencies like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has made significant gains in recent years in cracking down on drug syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.
“This action is not only irresponsible but sends a dangerous signal to criminals that they can commit serious offences and hope for leniency once they show ‘remorse’,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further noted that Nigeria remains a major hub in the global drug trade and that drug-related issues are a growing public health concern. Citing a 2018 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which found Nigeria’s drug use prevalence at 14.4% — nearly three times the global average — the party said granting pardon to drug offenders threatens ongoing efforts to reverse the trend.
“Drug trafficking and abuse are not only criminal issues but major public health and security challenges. Any step that appears to support or tolerate such behaviour is unacceptable,” the party said.
The presidential pardon, which was announced earlier this month, was part of a routine clemency process often carried out on humanitarian grounds or to decongest prisons. However, critics argue that releasing individuals convicted for serious offences like drug trafficking, smuggling, and corruption goes beyond humanitarianism and risks eroding the credibility of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
While the presidency is yet to respond directly to the ADC’s statement, some government officials have defended the move, saying it followed recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
But the ADC insists that clemency should be used sparingly and never for crimes that endanger national security or international standing.
“Nigeria cannot afford to be seen as a country that rewards crime with mercy, especially when innocent citizens and law enforcement officers continue to bear the cost,” Abdullahi added.
