The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has blamed President Bola Tinubu for the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alleging that his administration mishandled relations with the Sahel countries.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the claim on Wednesday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where he discussed rising insecurity in the region.
Abdullahi said longstanding regional cooperation in combating terrorism weakened under Tinubu’s leadership, leading to a breakdown in collaboration among member states.
According to him, “Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso left ECOWAS because President Tinubu came and mismanaged the relationship. What used to be joint collaboration to fight terrorism in the Sahel became ‘all man for himself,’ and terrorism prospered.”
He referenced the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, noting that Nigeria ranked fourth among the most affected countries, behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso and Niger. He argued that the rankings reflect a broader regional security decline.
Abdullahi stressed that effective counterterrorism efforts depend on strong cooperation among neighbouring countries, adding that Nigeria’s ability to lead in West Africa is tied to its domestic security performance.
“The foundation for fighting terrorism in Nigeria must be drawn from our ability to build relationships with our neighbours,” he said.
He further stated that Nigeria cannot assert leadership in the region while struggling to ensure the safety of its citizens, warning that internal security challenges undermine its influence across West Africa.
The comments come amid ongoing concerns about insecurity and shifting alliances within the West African subregion.
