The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized Nigeria’s failure to respond to the United States’ recent actions against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, suggesting it highlights a broader crisis of legitimacy and moral authority under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, argues that this situation serves as a warning to governments lacking legitimacy and emphasizes that authoritarian leaders can no longer hide behind national borders to shield their stolen mandates from international scrutiny.
Abdullahi underscored that while the ADC supports principles of national sovereignty and non-interference as enshrined in international law, these cannot be used to protect repressive regimes or electoral fraud. He noted that the 2024 presidential elections in Venezuela were widely condemned as illegitimate by multiple international entities, leading to a humanitarian crisis and mass migration from the country.
Expressing concern over the Nigerian government’s silence more than 48 hours after the event, Abdullahi stated that this inaction is embarrassing and damaging to Nigeria’s international reputation. He concluded by asserting that the situation in Venezuela should serve as a cautionary tale for authoritarian leaders, emphasizing that sovereignty must reflect the will of the people rather than merely the survival of a regime.
