The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give Nigerians a clear and honest explanation for the sudden removal of the country’s Service Chiefs, describing the move as “surprising” and raising concerns about its timing.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said while the President has the constitutional authority to appoint and remove military leaders, Nigerians deserve to know the real reasons behind what it described as a “sudden and sweeping overhaul” of the armed forces.
The call followed the President’s recent decision to sack most of the Service Chiefs he appointed less than two years ago. The changes come barely weeks after unconfirmed reports of a coup plot circulated across social media, sparking anxiety among citizens.
“The President’s decision may be within his powers, but the timing and manner in which it was done raise serious questions,” Abdullahi said. “The government’s reaction to the coup rumours lacked clarity and only deepened confusion among Nigerians.”
He noted that some of the dismissed military chiefs had served for less than three years, with the recently removed Chief of Defence Staff only promoted last year. The ADC said such an abrupt reshuffle could unsettle the military hierarchy and weaken morale among officers at a time when the country continues to face serious security challenges.
According to Abdullahi, the Tinubu administration must come clean with Nigerians on what informed the decision, rather than allowing speculation and conspiracy theories to fill the information gap.
“The government owes the public a full and transparent explanation for what really happened,” he said. “This is necessary to reassure citizens that our democracy remains stable and that there is no cause for alarm.”
The ADC also criticised what it described as the government’s “distracted approach” to national security. The party said the worsening insecurity in several parts of the country — from insurgency in the North-East to banditry and kidnappings in the North-West and Middle Belt — demands focused and consistent leadership in the armed forces.
It warned that frequent changes in military leadership could slow down ongoing counter-terrorism efforts and affect coordination among security agencies.
“As an opposition party, our main concern is the peace and stability of Nigeria,” Abdullahi added. “The government must ensure that its actions do not send the wrong signals, especially when neighbouring countries like Chad and others in the Sahel region are battling instability.”
