ADC welcomes Tinubu, seeks answers to five-day post-BRICS absence
The African Democratic Congress has expressed its welcome for President Bola Tinubu's return to Nigeria, while seeking clarification regarding his unexplained five-day absence following the 2025 BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, the party emphasized that a president who goes missing without providing accountability cannot be trusted to tackle the urgent issues facing the nation.
According to PUNCH Online, Tinubu departed from Abuja on June 28, 2025, beginning his journey with a state visit to Saint Lucia aimed at strengthening ties with Caribbean nations and promoting South-South cooperation. This visit also coincided with the 45th Independence Anniversary of Saint Lucia.
He then proceeded to Brazil on July 4 to participate in the 2025 BRICS Summit, which took place in Rio de Janeiro from July 6 to 7. The President made his return in the early hours of Sunday.
In response, the ADC raised questions about President Tinubu’s whereabouts during the five-day interval after the BRICS Summit concluded.
The opposition leaders coalition expressed, “The African Democratic Congress extends a lukewarm welcome to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finally coming back to the country five days post the conclusion of the 2025 BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“Since the summit wrapped up on Monday, July 7, all the other global leaders in attendance returned to their respective countries, updated their citizens, and resumed their duties. But our President? He only reappeared in Abuja in the early hours of Sunday, July 13—without any announcement, briefing, or explanation for the delay in his return.
“A full five days is crucial in the life of a nation, particularly one like ours that is grappling with multiple existential issues such as insecurity and a struggling economy that has made life increasingly challenging for many Nigerians. The President was not on vacation; he was on official business. Therefore, we cannot simply overlook those five days, and we demand a clear explanation for them.
“The ADC further expresses concern that this lack of accountability surrounding the President’s travels abroad has become a defining characteristic of this administration.”
The ADC emphasized that a president who goes missing without providing any accountability lacks the ethical standing to ask citizens to make sacrifices.
The statement continued, “In January 2024, a so-called 'private visit' to France turned into a two-week absence. There were no photos or statements from our President.
“In April 2024, President Tinubu visited the Netherlands and then Riyadh for the World Economic Forum. The summit concluded on April 29, 2024, but he did not communicate until May 8, 2024. Those were nine days of unexplained silence.
“In August 2024, President Tinubu traveled to China via Dubai. After his engagements in Beijing, he disappeared from the public eye on September 5 and inexplicably appeared in London on September 11. He was absent for six days—no clarifications, no communication to the National Assembly, just silence.
“And also in August 2024, the President undertook yet another 'brief work stay' in Paris. He was out of contact for three days before quietly returning as if the nation did not deserve to be informed. Each instance of Mr. President’s mysterious absences has led to various speculations and rumors.
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