NDC Party Knocks Tinubu Over Appeal For Peace After Bragging ‘All Is Fair In Politics’
NDC Party Knocks Tinubu Over Appeal For Peace After Bragging ‘All Is Fair In Politics’
The NDC, in a statement signed by its Enugu State Secretary, Nebo Chukwujekwu Emmanuel, questioned what had changed between the President’s earlier combative rhetoric and his recent call for political civility.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Enugu State chapter, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent appeal for peaceful political campaigns, accusing him of inconsistency following his earlier declaration that “all is fair in politics”.
The party said Tinubu’s November 13, 2026, appeal for peaceful political engagement contradicted his July 28, 2026, remark in which he reportedly declared that all was fair in politics and vowed to wrestle his political opponents to the finishing point.
The NDC, in a statement signed by its Enugu State Secretary, Nebo Chukwujekwu Emmanuel, questioned what had changed between the President’s earlier combative rhetoric and his recent call for political civility.
It also suggested that the President’s recent appeal might have been influenced by public embarrassment and reported humiliation surrounding his mosque visit.
“Peace should not become a convenient sermon preached only when the political atmosphere becomes uncomfortable for those in power,” the party said.
The NDC accused Tinubu of creating an atmosphere of political hostility through his rhetoric while subsequently presenting himself as an advocate of peaceful political engagement.
It asked the President to clarify the limits of his earlier declaration that all was fair in politics, questioning whether intimidation, political thuggery and harassment of opposition parties could also be considered acceptable political tactics.
“If all is fair in politics, where do you draw the line between political competition and political violence? Is intimidation fair? Is political thuggery fair? Is the harassment of opposition parties fair? Are Nigerians expected to accept double standards in the name of political expediency?” the statement queried.
The party maintained that democracy should not be treated as a contest in which political opponents must be defeated through intimidation or strong-arm tactics.
“Democracy is not a wrestling match, and political opponents are not enemies to be conquered. Democracy is governed by constitutional rights, fairness, accountability and respect for the rule of law,” it said.
While welcoming genuine calls for peaceful elections, the NDC insisted that Tinubu must demonstrate his commitment through concrete actions rather than public statements.
It urged the President to ensure that security agencies protect all political parties equally and that opposition candidates are allowed to campaign freely without intimidation, harassment or selective enforcement of the law.
The party further argued that peaceful political engagement should be a consistent leadership responsibility rather than an approach adopted only when the political atmosphere becomes unfavourable.
“Mr President, peace is not a political strategy to be activated when the tables turn. It is a leadership responsibility that must be upheld at all times, whether the political atmosphere favours you or challenges you,” it added.
The NDC said the 2027 general elections should focus on ideas, accountability, competence and the welfare of Nigerians rather than intimidation, threats and political strong-arm tactics.
