President Bola Tinubu has come under intense criticism from opposition parties and political figures, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following his recent decision to grant presidential pardons to dozens of convicted criminals — among them drug traffickers. Critics described the move as a major setback for Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign and an affront to justice and morality.
The Presidency, on Saturday, released a list of 175 individuals granted the 2025 presidential pardon, which included the late nationalist Herbert Macaulay, Major General Mamman Vatsa (rtd), and Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband.
The list also contained over 30 convicted drug offenders and others jailed for crimes such as homicide, fraud, and illegal mining. The development has since ignited nationwide outrage and debate.
In a statement on Sunday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the decision as “pathetic and a national disgrace,” arguing that it undermines Nigeria’s war against drugs, encourages criminality, and damages the country’s international image.
“The African Democratic Congress finds as pathetic and an act of immense national disgrace the recent presidential pardon and clemency granted to several convicted criminals by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.
Abdullahi said the act amounted to an irresponsible misuse of presidential powers, noting that many of those pardoned had served less than two years of sentences meant to last decades.
“It amounts to a most irresponsible abuse of the presidential power of prerogative of mercy to grant express pardon to dozens of convicts held for drug trafficking, smuggling, and related offences — especially when most of these convicts have barely served two years in jail for crimes that attract life imprisonment,” the party stated.
The ADC warned that the decision sends a dangerous message that mere remorse or token rehabilitation now suffices to earn freedom, even for serious crimes.
“According to official statements, it appears that all it takes to get presidential clemency for even the worst of crimes in Nigeria — including drug trafficking, gun running, and murder — is to show remorse and learn skills,” the statement added.
The party maintained that presidential clemency should only be used to correct miscarriages of justice or reintegrate individuals who have genuinely paid their debt to society.
“We wonder what Nigeria stands to gain from granting clemency to convicts serving life sentences who have barely served two years. For years, NDLEA officers have risked life and limb to combat this problem,” ADC continued. “Granting clemency to individuals convicted under such laws makes a mockery of their sacrifice and paints Nigeria as sympathetic to drug dealers.”
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticized the decision, describing it as a “shocking and indefensible move” that undermines public confidence in the rule of law.
“While the presidential power of mercy is intended to balance justice with compassion, its misuse weakens confidence in justice and governance,” Atiku said.
He argued that extending clemency to individuals convicted of serious crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption diminishes the moral standing of the government and emboldens criminal elements.
“This pardon comes at a time when Nigeria is battling insecurity, moral decay, and a surge in drug-related crimes. Particularly alarming is that nearly 30 per cent of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related offences, even as our youth are being destroyed by narcotics,” Atiku added.
The former Vice President also drew attention to what he termed “moral irony,” referring to lingering controversies surrounding Tinubu’s past connections to a U.S. drug-related forfeiture case.
“It is therefore no surprise that this administration continues to show tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise,” he said.
Atiku stressed that a presidential pardon should symbolize reform and redemption, not political convenience.
“What we have witnessed is a mockery of justice, an affront to victims, and a demoralization of law enforcement. Clemency must never be confused with complicity. When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it loses moral authority,” he warned.
He concluded by calling for a complete review of the presidential clemency process, urging transparency, fairness, and public accountability.
Tinubu Faces Backlash Over Presidential Pardon for Drug Offenders
