You Can’t Fight Drugs and Free Traffickers — ADC Blasts Tinubu Over Presidential Pardons

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting presidential pardons to several convicted drug traffickers and smugglers, describing the move as “a national disgrace” that undermines Nigeria’s fight against narcotics and damages its global image.

In a statement released on Sunday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the decision represented “an irresponsible use of presidential powers” that could promote impunity and erode public morality.

“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,” Abdullahi declared.

The ADC expressed outrage that many of those granted clemency had served less than two years of their sentences for offences that carry life imprisonment, questioning the criteria used in making the decision.

“It amounts to a most irresponsible use of the presidential prerogative of mercy to grant express pardon to dozens of convicts held for drug trafficking, smuggling, and related offences, especially when most of these convicts have barely served two years in jail,” the statement read.

The party also criticised the federal government’s justification that the beneficiaries had shown remorse and acquired vocational skills while in prison, arguing that such reasons were inadequate.

“Pardons and clemency should serve social utility or correct miscarriages of justice — not reward convicts who have barely paid their debt to society,” the ADC stated.

According to Abdullahi, the move sends the wrong message to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security operatives risking their lives in the war against illicit drugs.

“Granting clemency to individuals convicted under such laws challenges the very foundation of Nigeria’s legal and moral stance against narcotics,” he warned. “It could demoralise officers fighting the drug war and weaken enforcement efforts nationwide.”

The ADC further noted that Nigeria’s drug use prevalence rate of 14.4 percent is nearly three times the global average, stressing that freeing convicted traffickers could worsen the country’s already alarming drug crisis.

“These pardons send signals beyond Nigeria’s borders,” the party cautioned. “They could damage our standing among international partners and create the impression that Nigeria is not fully committed to the global fight against drug trafficking.”

The party urged the federal government to exercise restraint and transparency when invoking the presidential prerogative of mercy, ensuring it aligns with justice, accountability, and national interest.

“We call on the government to uphold transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in the exercise of such sensitive powers,” Abdullahi added.

The ADC reaffirmed its dedication to promoting justice, integrity, and responsible governance, saying the Tinubu administration’s actions must not contradict its own anti-drug policy.

“You cannot fight drugs and free traffickers at the same time,” the ADC concluded.

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