Presidency, ADC Clash Over Alleged Politicization of Buhari’s Burial

A heated exchange has broken out between the Presidency and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over allegations that President Bola Tinubu is using the recent death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political advantage.

The ADC accused President Tinubu of turning Buhari’s passing into a tool for political gain, particularly in Northern Nigeria. The party criticized recent appointments—including that of Muhammad Babangida, son of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida—as a calculated move to regain lost trust.

Describing the president’s actions as “cynical” and “stage-managed,” the ADC claimed Tinubu’s gestures were designed to manipulate public sentiment and reclaim support in the North, a region where Buhari enjoyed massive influence.

In a swift response, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, dismissed the ADC’s claims as “laughable tantrums” and “shameless attempts” to remain relevant.

“This is not the first time the ADC has embarrassed itself with hollow, attention-seeking statements,” Dare said in a statement issued Saturday. “A party struggling with an identity crisis cannot lecture the President on governance or public conduct.”

He further accused the ADC of being the real culprit in politicizing Buhari’s death, citing the behavior of other opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai, whose visit to Daura he described as “choreographed” for political effect.