The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over what it described as an “appointment fiasco” in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, calling on the National Assembly to determine whether the President is still able to effectively discharge the responsibilities of his office.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed concern over reports that a man who was publicly removed from office by presidential directive continues to occupy the same position and hold official meetings with senior government officials.
According to the ADC, if the reports surrounding the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) are accurate, the issue goes beyond a disputed appointment and raises serious questions about the exercise of executive authority.
“Who is actually in charge of the Nigerian Presidency? When a President announces the appointment of one person and another simply ignores that directive and carries on in office, Nigeria is no longer witnessing administrative confusion. We are witnessing a struggle for control of the Presidency itself,” the statement read.
The party argued that the BCDA controversy should not be treated as an isolated case, saying it reflects what it described as a growing pattern within the current administration.
The ADC also referenced the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing it as a government agency that officially did not exist but allegedly operated at the highest level of government.
“It was only when allegations emerged of its fake Director-General’s collaboration with the President’s Chief of Staff that the scandal could no longer be ignored,” the party stated.
The opposition party said the incidents suggest that the Presidency is gradually losing control over one of its constitutional responsibilities—the appointment and removal of public office holders.
“Today, Nigerians no longer know whether an appointment announced by the Presidency is final, whether a dismissal actually takes effect, or whether someone somewhere possesses a superior authority capable of overruling presidential decisions without explanation,” the statement added.
The ADC further accused the Tinubu administration of frequent policy reversals, citing the suspension of the cybersecurity levy, the withdrawal of the expatriate employment levy, and what it described as repeated policy inconsistencies across different sectors.
“A government that cannot consistently stand by its own decisions gradually loses not only credibility, but authority. Investors become uncertain. The bureaucracy became confused. Public institutions begin to test the limits of their power because they no longer know whether today’s directive will still exist tomorrow,” it said.
The party called on the Federal Government to provide clear answers on the issues raised, insisting that the matter goes beyond politics.
“At this point, Nigerians deserve answers that go beyond carefully managed press statements. Who is exercising the constitutional powers of the President? Who authorises appointments? Who countermanded the President’s directive at the BCDA, if indeed it has been countermanded?” the statement queried.
“Who permitted a fictitious agency to masquerade as an arm of the Presidency? These are not opposition questions. They are constitutional questions. They go directly to the integrity of executive authority and the stability of our nation.”
