The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) on Sunday, October 25, 2026, criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what it characterised as a lack of empathy for citizens suffering from severe insecurity, hunger, and economic hardship across Nigeria.
​The opposition council urged President Tinubu to draw lessons in responsive governance and political empathy from French President Emmanuel Macron.
The ADC’s reaction follows reports that President Macron deferred his state visit to Nigeria, initially scheduled for October 28–29, 2026, including the France-Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos, to early 2027 in order to stay home and address pressing domestic challenges facing France.
​In an official statement released on Sunday from Abuja, Kola Ologbondiyan, Director of Media and Publicity for the ADC-PCC, stressed that Macron’s decision highlights the duty of a head of state to prioritize domestic crises over ceremonial international engagements.
​”A president will not travel or focus on external optics when his home is contending with internal combustion,” the statement noted, contrasting President Macron’s actions with President Tinubu’s public handling of national issues.
​The council faulted President Tinubu for remarks made on Saturday, October 24, 2026, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign flag-off rally at the Kaduna Township Stadium.
During the Kaduna event, President Tinubu dismissed criticisms regarding widespread hardship, asserting that opposition parties were responsible for creating the country’s hunger and poverty.
​The ADC-PCC argued that deflecting responsibility to previous administrations or political opponents demonstrates a disconnect from the realities facing everyday Nigerians.
​”Rather than acknowledging the deep economic pain caused by policy shifts such as the removal of fuel subsidies and currency floating, the administration continues to dismiss public frustration as mere political opposition,” the ADC-PCC stated.
​The campaign council urged President Tinubu to adopt a more compassionate, hands-on leadership style, one that prioritises listening to citizens, taking direct responsibility for national security emergencies, and delivering visible relief to families affected by rising living costs.
