The All Progressives Congress has condemned the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress and others for endorsing the House of Representatives minority caucus’s “lead or leave” call on President Bola Tinubu over worsening insecurity in the country, describing the position as politically motivated and unfair.

On Wednesday, the minority caucus of the House of Representatives delivered a scathing assessment of the state of the nation, accusing the government of President Tinubu of failing to tackle worsening insecurity, deepening economic hardship and mounting threats to democratic institutions, while allegedly focusing on political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

For over two decades, Nigeria, especially the northern region, has been severely affected by insecurity, with groups like Boko Haram, armed bandits, and other criminal networks responsible for thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people.

While the Federal Government and security agencies have succeeded in neutralising, arresting, and prosecuting some of the perpetrators, the menace has continued, with these groups persisting and even extending their operations into parts of southern Nigeria.

Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Minority Leader of the House, Fred Agbedi, said the country was facing one of its most difficult periods since the return to democratic rule in 1999, citing persistent insecurity, rising poverty and growing public frustration.

Agbedi stated, “President Tinubu must suspend all 2027 political activities and declare a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan.”

The Minority Leader, citing worsening economic hardship and insecurity as evidence that Nigeria is drifting toward a failed state, challenged the President to either provide effective leadership or step aside.

Speaking with The PUNCH in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the minority caucus merely echoed the frustrations of many Nigerians.

He said, “ADC wholeheartedly support the position of the House of Representatives minority caucus because it reflects the view of the majority of Nigerians. It is obvious that President Tinubu has run out of ideas.

“Everything he is doing regarding insecurity now is mere showboating and for the media headlines.”

According to Abdullahi, recent security breaches exposed the weaknesses of the country’s security architecture.

He said, “The attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, underscores this.

“If the highest policy institutions that ordinarily attract high-level presence of military officers could be so brazenly attacked and security personnel killed, what other daring could be more than that?

“The President was busy issuing threats to bandits on Democracy Day. But it is obvious now that he was only talking to himself and trying to sound tough.”

The PDP faction led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), through its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, also urged the President to step aside if he could not effectively address insecurity and economic challenges, saying greater focus on governance would have reduced the country’s problems.

He stated, “It is commonsensical that if you cannot solve a problem, you should give way for those who can. If you cannot solve the problem, you should step aside, because you will eventually become part of the problem.

“We said this over a year ago, that he should seek support. There are many people willing to offer assistance, but if he is unwilling to seek that support, it reflects a disposition that places politics above policies and programmes, and seeks public approval on issues.

“If he were to put even half the energy he invests in political strategy and weakening the opposition into tackling insecurity, it would have been a thing of the past.”

He added that the government had not done enough in addressing insecurity and the economy, despite claims of progress.

The Social Democratic Party also backed the position of the House minority leadership, arguing that the Federal Government had failed to meet public expectations since taking office.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said Tinubu had not fulfilled the constitutional obligation of ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerians.

Speaking with our correspondent, Aiyenigba said, “The administration of President Tinubu has undeniably and inexplicably performed underwhelmingly and failed terribly in fulfilling the fundamental obligations of Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended).

“His inability to secure the lives and welfare of Nigerians, which is his primary duty, after three years of being in power, speaks to the imperative of his having to step aside, or be rejected at the next polls, particularly considering that he had in the past been very critical of past governments when he was in opposition.”

Drawing comparisons with Tinubu’s role as an opposition figure before the APC came to power in 2015, Aiyenigba said the President was now facing the same scrutiny he once directed at previous administrations.

He continued, “It’s on record that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as opposition leader, strongly called out President Goodluck Jonathan. His party, Action Congress of Nigeria, as they were at the time, terribly lampooned President Jonathan and tagged him as being clueless!

“The ‘cluelessness’ of President Jonathan’s administration pales into insignificance, compared to the complete absence of governance under the APC administrations in the last 11 years, considering what Nigerians presently contend with in the areas of pervasive poverty, worsening insecurity, mounting national social tension and the dwindling public trust in government and our public institutions.”

The Democratic Leadership Alliance also endorsed the position of the opposition lawmakers.

Its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Judith Aguenu, said the party had consistently maintained a similar position and had previously issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government over insecurity.

“This has always been the position of the DLA. Recall that we gave the President a 14-day ultimatum on this subject matter,” Aguenu said.

Also, the Nigeria Democratic Congress threw its weight behind the House of Representatives minority caucus’s demand for Tinubu to suspend political activities related to the 2027 general elections and concentrate on addressing Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

Speaking on the proposal for a six-month national security and economic recovery plan, the NDC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, described the recommendation as timely and long overdue, arguing that the scale of insecurity across the country required urgent and coordinated action.

“I think the Reps minority caucus position on the six-month national security and economic recovery plan is apt. It is coming at the right time. In fact, it is long overdue,” Abdulsalam said.

He stressed that insecurity had reached a level where the National Assembly must take a more active role in finding solutions, noting that security is a collective responsibility.

“Everybody knows the prevailing insecurity issue in the country has reached a level that the National Assembly, as an institution, ought to rise to the occasion. This is because security is the business of everybody.

“When the government fails to take a proactive step to stem the tide of insecurity, we should expect that it will continue to consume many of our citizens,” he added.

The opposition spokesman said the NDC fully aligned with the position of the minority lawmakers, lamenting what he described as the government’s reactive approach to security challenges.

“As a political party, we, therefore, align ourselves with the position of the minority caucus. On a personal level, I don’t think it is when a general or a high-profile person is killed that the Federal Government will vow to take action.

“Ordinary citizens have been dying for quite some time now. People, especially schoolchildren, have been abducted, and women have been raped with reckless abandon. Yet, the government appears not to care that much.”

Abdulsalam also dismissed concerns that a six-month emergency security plan could disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.

According to him, Nigeria had successfully combined intensive security operations with election preparations during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Personally, I don’t think so. If you recall, former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 declared an emergency on security. He ordered the military to take over the barracks, and all the other security agencies went to work to see how they could tame the Boko Haram insurgents.

“As of that time, a lot of success was recorded even though it was an election year. The election was very near, and a massive campaign was going on. But the military launched an onslaught on the terrorists.

“I don’t think declaring an emergency on security will in any way affect the planning, preparation or campaign for the elections. If it works for us in 2014/15, it can still work for us ahead of 2027.”

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), said that rising insecurity, including cases of kidnapping, should not automatically lead to the suspension of elections or political campaigns in Nigeria.

Osigwe stated that while insecurity remains a serious national concern, the democratic process must not be disrupted, arguing that elections and campaigns provide a platform for accountability.

“That people are being kidnapped does not mean we should not hold an election,” he said.

The NBA President stressed that campaign periods are essential to democracy as they allow citizens to assess political leaders and hold them accountable for performance, particularly on security and welfare.

“Campaign season should not stop. It should offer an opportunity for us to actually hold accountable those who seek votes, those who seek to be re-elected,” Osigwe said.

He argued that suspending campaigns due to insecurity could unintentionally shield political office holders from scrutiny and weaken democratic accountability.

“It would also be an opportunity for them to show the people that they have a strong credential on security,” he said.

Osigwe further noted that elections serve as a “referendum” on leadership performance, especially on issues of insecurity.

“Voting them out, if the people feel they have failed to tackle mounting insecurity, is part of the democratic process,” he said.

He warned that removing electoral pressure could reduce urgency in addressing security challenges.

“What if the insecurity does not stop? What if leaders become laid back and do not take strong action?” he asked.

Osigwe maintained that political campaigns are central to democratic engagement, where key national issues are debated, and leaders are assessed by the electorate.

“Usually during election season, politicians tackle strong issues so they can score high with the electorate,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged concerns over insecurity but insisted that halting campaigns or elections is not a straightforward solution.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, however, distanced itself from the call on the President to “lead or leave,” insisting it did not support the demand.

Asked whether APGA backed the position of the House minority leadership, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, replied: “Never, we don’t.”

Reacting, APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, rejected calls for Tinubu’s resignation, describing the call and claims that Nigeria was tilting towards a failed state as reckless and misleading.

Ibrahim said the President remained focused on tackling insecurity and reviving the economy.

He argued that security and economic challenges were not unique to Nigeria, noting that countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom were facing similar difficulties.

He maintained that the Federal Government was taking steps to address the challenges and urged Nigerians to support efforts aimed at finding solutions.

The APC official stated, “The Minority Leader is reading the situation upside down. President Bola Tinubu is providing the necessary leadership in tackling insecurity and revamping Nigeria’s economy. He is focused on governance, not 2027 politics.

“It is reckless for the minority caucus to demand his resignation based on the false alarm that Nigeria is tilting towards a failed state. But that is not a surprise.

“That is why he is in the minority, minority in the membership of the National Assembly and, I think, minority in his thinking about situations around the world, not just in Nigeria.

“Every country is facing security challenges, including advanced democracies like America. As I speak to you, America is undertaking serious investigations regarding security threats to the White House. Nobody has said America is tilting towards a failed state. America is also facing economic challenges as a result of inflation and the Iran-Israel conflict. Yet, nobody is saying America is tilting towards a failed state.

“Britain, the United Kingdom, is facing mass resignations in Parliament and the cabinet. The Prime Minister is facing challenges, but nobody is saying Britain is facing a failed-state situation.

“So, Nigeria cannot be an exception. If you look at what the President and the party are doing to address these problems, you will know that nobody is sleeping with their eyes closed.

The party is strategising to ensure that the situation is brought under control. The government is also taking steps to ensure that the situation is brought under control.”

Speaking on the call for Tinubu’s resignation, Ibrahim said it was uncalled for.

“To call for the resignation of the President is uncalled for. I think it is a statement coming from people who do not fully understand the nature of the challenges confronting the country.

“The call is reckless. It is reckless in the sense that, in a democratic system where people can openly discuss issues through parliamentary processes, contributions should be made constructively with a view to finding solutions.”

Ibrahim stressed that everyone must unite to tackle the challenge, rather than introduce sentiments that could worsen divisions.

He stated, “All hands must be on deck to confront the challenge, not to inject sentiments that will deepen divisions rather than bridge them.

“People are entitled to their opinions, but we believe the President is doing everything possible. After all, no leader would want to govern in a situation characterised by insecurity.

It is the ambition of every leader to ensure that he leads a united, secure, and prosperous country, especially a country like Nigeria, which is a developing economy in Africa.”