There has been strong criticism from Nigerians on social media after comments made by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, in which he told a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leke Abejide, to remain in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and “scatter them.”
The comments were made during a birthday celebration in Abuja and have since gone viral, sparking debate about political conduct, party loyalty, and respect for democratic institutions.
The incident happened at the 50th birthday celebration of the wife of Hon. Leke Abejide. Abejide is a member of the House of Representatives and is linked to one of the factions within the ADC, a smaller opposition political party in Nigeria.
The ADC, which stands for African Democratic Congress, has in recent times been facing internal crisis. The party is divided into different factions, each struggling for control of its structure and leadership. These internal struggles have weakened the party’s unity and public image.
In Nigeria’s political system, such divisions are not uncommon, especially among smaller opposition parties. However, the ADC crisis has drawn attention because of the intensity of the disagreement between its leaders and members.
Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and now Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, was among the guests at the birthday event in Abuja.
In a video from the event that later spread widely on social media, Gbajabiamila was seen speaking directly to Hon. Abejide.
He described Abejide as a “committed party man” and someone who is known for fighting for what he believes in. He then urged him not to leave the ADC despite its internal problems.
Gbajabiamila said Abejide should remain in the party and continue to “fight” within it. He went further to say he should “scatter them,” a phrase that has now become the centre of public debate.
He also encouraged the lawmaker to stay in the ADC and continue his political struggle within the party, insisting that he should not abandon it for another political platform.
In the same remarks, he referred indirectly to political movements involving other parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that Abejide should not be distracted by such developments.
The comments have triggered widespread reactions, especially on social media platforms where many Nigerians expressed concern about the message behind the statement.
Critics say it is wrong for a senior government official to encourage internal division in a political party, even if it is an opposition party. Some argued that such statements could deepen political tension and weaken democratic values.
Others described the remark as careless, saying it sends the wrong signal about respect for party structures and political stability in the country.
However, some supporters of Gbajabiamila and the ruling party argued that the comment was made in a casual, joking manner at a social event and should not be taken too seriously.
Despite this defence, the video continued to gain attention online, with many Nigerians debating whether political leaders should make such comments in public gatherings.
In many cases, internal disagreements within parties have led to defections, court cases, and parallel leadership structures. The ADC is currently one of several opposition parties dealing with such internal struggles.
Hon. Leke Abejide, the lawmaker at the centre of the comments, is said to be part of a faction led by Nafiu Bala. The existence of competing factions within the same party has made it difficult for the ADC to present a united front.
Gbajabiamila’s comments also come at a time when political activities are gradually building ahead of future elections, where party strength and unity are expected to play a key role.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Femi Gbajabiamila nor Hon. Leke Abejide had issued any official statement responding to the controversy surrounding the video.
The ADC leadership has also not made a formal public comment on the matter, even though the party remains in the middle of internal disputes that the remarks appear to highlight.
The incident has added to ongoing discussions about how Nigerian political leaders behave in public and private gatherings. Many citizens have called for greater responsibility in speeches made by top government officials, especially those close to the presidency.