By Muhammad Mamman
Veteran Nigerian politician and former senator Shehu Sani has launched a blistering critique of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing the party of being home to those he says were responsible for the country’s political and economic setbacks over nearly a quarter‑century.
In a statement that has ignited fresh debate among political observers, Sani said Saturday that the ADC contains the figures who “destroyed this country from 1999–2015” and those who “destroyed Nigeria from 2015–2023.”
Sani’s comments were made during a public event in Abuja, where he argued that many of Nigeria’s long‑standing challenges — including weak governance, economic instability, and pervasive corruption — stem from leadership failures tied to political elites now aligned with the ADC.
“If you are looking for people who destroyed this country from 1999 to 2015, they are in the ADC. If you are looking for the people who destroyed Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, they are in the ADC,” Sani said, in highly‑quoted remarks that were widely shared on social media.
The criticism underscores growing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of upcoming elections, with opposition figures increasingly targeting parties they see as obstacles to reform and national progress.
Political analysts say Sani’s charge reflects broader dissatisfaction among some Nigerians about governance and accountability, even as the ADC has defended its record and questioned the motives behind the attacks.
The ADC, formed in 2005, has sought to present itself as an alternative to Nigeria’s dominant parties. But Sani’s remarks — if widely amplified — could intensify scrutiny of its leadership and political alliances.
