The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has challenged Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum to explain a viral video in which he allegedly ordered the arrest and detention of people heard expressing the slogan, “Tinubu Must Go”.
The demand came after the emergence of the video, which the opposition campaign council said appeared to contradict Zulum’s earlier denial that he ordered the arrest of people wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts in the state.
In a statement by its Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, the ADC PCC said the governor owed Nigerians an explanation over the contents of the video and his previous position.
“A viral video now circulating, in which Governor Babagana Zulum speaks in Hausa and orders the arrest and detention of anyone caught expressing ‘Tinubu Must Go,’ raises grave questions about his respect for citizens’ democratic rights.
“He must explain the fresh video and reconcile its contents with that denial. Nigerians deserve clarity, not contradictory messages about whether peaceful critics will be arrested,” the statement partly read.
The council argued that political disagreement and peaceful criticism of a president should not be treated as criminal offences, insisting that citizens had the right to express their views.
“No governor has the authority to criminalise peaceful political opinion. A slogan, a T-shirt or a call for a president to leave office is not, by itself, a crime,” the ADC PCC said.
Shaibu also warned against allegedly using other offences to target people because of their political views.
“If the authorities have credible evidence of a separate offence, they should present it in court and allow due process to take its course. They must not use other allegations as a cover to punish citizens for their political views,” he said.
The ADC PCC called on Zulum to withdraw any directive against peaceful protesters and give a public assurance that nobody would be arrested simply for opposing President Bola Tinubu.
“We call on Gov Zulum to withdraw any directive targeting peaceful protesters and to guarantee that no one will be arrested solely for expressing opposition to President Tinubu,” the statement said.
The controversy comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition groups increasingly using rallies, slogans and social media to challenge the Tinubu administration.
The ADC campaign council said political disputes should be settled through democratic engagement rather than intimidation or detention.
“A government confident in its record answers criticism with evidence and performance—not threats of arrest and detention,” Shaibu said.
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