Service Chiefs: Tinubu must come clean on sudden military changes – ADC

The African Democratic Congress has called on President Bola Tinubu to be transparent with Nigerians regarding the “sudden and rather abrupt change in the leadership of the Nigerian military.”

Daily Trust had earlier reported that the President sacked most of the Service Chiefs he appointed about two years ago, a move that has since stirred nationwide reactions.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that the shake-up came shortly after rumours of a coup attempt began circulating.

“While we acknowledge that the President, as Commander-in-Chief, reserves the power to make such changes as he may deem fit, we are somewhat concerned that this change is coming in the wake of widespread rumours of an attempted coup,” Abdullahi stated.

According to him, the government’s response to the coup speculations “has veered between deliberate obfuscation and outright confusion in a matter that required crystal clarity.”

The opposition party noted that most of the removed Service Chiefs were appointed only 28 months ago, while the current Chief of Defence Staff had only served a year as Chief of Army Staff before his promotion.

“We also note that this kind of decision has serious and far-reaching implications for stability within the ranks and therefore could not have been taken without strong reasons,” the statement added.

The ADC maintained that Nigerians deserve a “categorical explanation” on the real circumstances surrounding the decision.

While stressing its commitment to national stability, Abdullahi said the party was alarmed by what it described as a growing distraction within the Tinubu administration.

“Insecurity continues to spread with terrorist groups staging a comeback in some parts of the country, while bandits reign supreme in others. Yet this is not the reason the government is changing the Service Chiefs. Instead, the administration’s attention appears fully focused on regime politics rather than securing the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

The ADC warned that the wholesale change in the nation’s military leadership could further fuel speculation and conspiracy theories rather than calm public anxiety.

The party urged the Federal Government to act with transparency and reassure Nigerians that the country’s democratic order remains intact.

“We therefore reiterate our earlier position that the Federal Government must address the issue transparently and reassure Nigerians that our democracy is not under threat,” the statement concluded.