ADC Faults Tinubu Over Push for UN Security Council Seat Amid Rising Insecurity

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for seeking a permanent seat for Nigeria on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) while the country continues to grapple with widespread insecurity.

In a statement reported on Tuesday, the opposition party described the government’s international lobbying efforts as misplaced, arguing that it undermines the daily struggles of Nigerians who face growing threats from banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, and violent crime.

President Tinubu, during recent high-level engagements at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and other diplomatic forums, renewed Nigeria’s long-standing call for Africa — and particularly Nigeria — to be granted permanent representation on the Security Council.

He maintained that Africa’s population size, contributions to peacekeeping, and increasing exposure to global crises justify its inclusion in the Council’s decision-making.

But the ADC insists that before Nigeria can make such a case on the global stage, the government must first demonstrate its ability to safeguard its own citizens. According to the party, the administration’s failure to curb insecurity erodes both its legitimacy at home and its credibility abroad.

“Nigeria cannot be pushing for a permanent seat at the Security Council when villages are being attacked, highways remain unsafe, and citizens live in fear,” the ADC argued.

The criticism reflects broader concerns among opposition parties and civil society groups, who believe the government is focusing more on foreign recognition than on resolving urgent domestic challenges.

Meanwhile, security agencies continue to battle a wave of violence across several states, particularly in the North West and Middle Belt regions, where attacks by bandits and armed groups have displaced thousands.

Tinubu’s campaign for a UNSC seat has been part of his broader foreign policy push to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading diplomatic voice.

However, the ADC’s rebuke underscores the tension between Nigeria’s global ambitions and its ongoing internal security struggles.