Nigeria’s opposition African Democratic Congress has issued a stark warning that President Bola Tinubu may be losing control of his own administration, citing an extraordinary case in which a federal government director allegedly continues to occupy office despite being publicly removed by presidential order. In a statement released by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party called on the National Assembly to investigate whether the President remains capable of effectively discharging his constitutional duties.
At the center of the controversy is the Border Communities Development Agency, where according to the opposition party, an official removed by presidential directive has reportedly continued conducting business, holding meetings with senior government officials, and operating as though the dismissal never occurred. If verified, the ADC argues, such defiance represents far more than administrative confusion. It points to a fundamental breakdown in the chain of command and raises troubling questions about who actually wields authority within the Nigerian presidency.
The opposition statement draws attention to what it describes as a disturbing pattern of executive dysfunction. Abdullahi pointed to the recent scandal involving the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an entity that allegedly operated at the highest levels of government despite having no official legal existence. Only after allegations surfaced connecting its purported director general to the President’s Chief of Staff did authorities move to address the situation, leaving Nigerians bewildered about how such an arrangement could persist undetected.
Beyond these specific incidents, the ADC highlighted a broader erosion of presidential authority marked by repeated policy reversals. From the hastily withdrawn Cybersecurity Levy following public backlash to the abandoned Expatriate Employment Levy after investor protests, the administration has developed a reputation for announcing policies only to retreat under pressure. Such inconsistency, the party argues, does more than damage credibility. It signals to the bureaucracy and public institutions that presidential directives may be temporary, negotiable, or even ignorable depending on which faction holds sway at any given moment.
Constitutional experts have long warned that when a government loses the ability to enforce its own decisions, the consequences extend beyond mere embarrassment. Investor confidence erodes when policy ility cannot be guaranteed. Civil servants become uncertain about which orders to follow. Competing power centers emerge within the administration, each testing the limits of their influence. What begins as administrative disorder can metastasize into a legitimacy crisis, particularly in a young democracy where institutional norms remain fragile and dependent on consistent reinforcement.
Whether the National Assembly will heed the opposition’s call for investigation remains uncertain, but the questions raised strike at the heart of executive authority under Nigeria’s constitution. Who authorizes appointments when the President’s announcements are contradicted by events on the ground? Who permitted a fictitious agency to operate within the presidency? Who possesses the power to countermand presidential directives without explanation or consequence? As Nigeria grapples with economic challenges and security threats, the ability of its chief executive to command his own administration is not merely a political talking point. It is a question with profound implications for governance, ility, and the rule of law itself.
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