Tinubu’s UN Security Council Bid Slammed Amid Nigeria’s Insecurity Crisis

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s push for Nigeria to obtain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the country’s persistent insecurity makes such a bid inappropriate. In a statement, the party warned that a government which cannot protect its own citizens should not seek global responsibilities. The ADC cited recent attacks in Zamfara State, where gunmen killed worshippers and abducted people at a mosque in Yandoto village, and noted that more than 140 Nigerians have been murdered in Zamfara and Katsina alone over the past two months. Amnesty International estimates that over 10,000 lives have been lost since May 2025 due to attacks by armed groups.

The ADC contended that the scale of lawlessness in these states raises serious doubts about Nigeria’s territorial control. Armed groups are imposing levies, restricting access to land and killing with impunity, eroding the nation’s territorial integrity under Tinubu’s administration. The party criticized the government’s response as limited to routine condolence messages rather than decisive action, and highlighted President Tinubu’s repeated absence from the commissioning of new officers at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, opting instead to attend the inauguration of the renovated National Arts Theater in Lagos for the second consecutive year.

According to the ADC, genuine leadership on the world stage must begin with responsibility at home. Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat will appear unrealistic until the government can demonstrably protect its citizens. The party reiterated its demand for an immediate declaration of a state of emergency in Zamfara State to curb the ongoing violence and bloodshed. This criticism underscores the challenges facing the Nigerian government in addressing the security crisis, and as the UN Security Council bid proceeds, the administration’s ability to safeguard its people and maintain territorial control will be closely scrutinized.