“A President That Disappears Cannot Be Trusted” – ADC Slams Tinubu Over Unexplained Absence

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it describes as yet another unexplained absence from the country, this time following the 2025 BRICS Summit in Brazil. In a statement released on Sunday, July 13, the opposition party accused the President of showing disregard for accountability and transparency after he remained out of public view for five days without official communication or explanation.

President Tinubu, who attended the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, was last seen publicly at the conclusion of the event on Monday, July 7. While other world leaders promptly returned to their respective countries and resumed duties, the Nigerian President only returned to Abuja in the early hours of Sunday. The Presidency has not issued any statement to clarify the reason for the delay, sparking fresh criticism from the ADC and concerns among political observers.

“A whole five days is significant in the life of a country, especially one battling insecurity and economic hardship,” the ADC said in its statement, questioning why the President, who was on official duty, would disappear without any explanation. “We demand a clear explanation for those missing days.”

The party went on to accuse President Tinubu of establishing a troubling pattern of unannounced absences during international trips. The statement recalled several instances in 2024 where the President allegedly vanished from the public eye for extended periods without addressing the Nigerian people. These included a two-week disappearance in January following a private visit to France, a nine-day silence after the World Economic Forum in April, and a six-day absence in September after attending events in China.

“In each case, there was no official communication, no briefings, and no transmission of power,” the statement read. “Each episode of Mr. President’s mysterious disappearances has sparked all manners of speculations and rumours that are not only unhealthy to the polity, but also endanger Nigeria’s perception in the eyes of the world.”

The ADC said the lack of communication from both the President and the ruling party demonstrated a broader contempt for democratic accountability. “A president that disappears without explanation cannot be trusted to be present to solve the crises that we face,” the party warned. “A president that vanishes without accountability has no moral authority to demand sacrifice from citizens.”

Signed by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who also serves as spokesman for the opposition coalition, the statement called on Nigerians to take note of what it described as “serial disappearances” and hold the government to account.

As of the time of reporting, the Presidency has not issued any response to the ADC’s statement or addressed the President’s whereabouts during the five-day gap.