The African Democratic Congress (ADC), a Nigerian opposition party, has described the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the United States as a “clear warning” to governments that lack legitimacy. In a statement, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the development sends a strong message to the Nigerian government and any other government that lacks legitimacy.
The ADC reaffirmed its support for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. However, the party noted that these doctrines should not be used to shield authoritarianism. “International governance doctrines, which were designed to maintain global order, should not be invoked to provide a safe haven for tyranny, electoral fraud, or the systematic denial of a people’s right to freely choose their leaders,” Mr. Abdullahi said.
The party cited the widely condemned 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, which was marked by fraud, repression, and exclusion. The election process was criticized by several governments in Latin America, the European Union, and international democratic institutions. The resulting mass migration from Venezuela has undermined regional stability.
The ADC acknowledged that the US action raises serious and legitimate questions under international law. However, the party noted that the public reaction within Venezuela highlighted a deeper crisis of legitimacy. The visible wave of popular public support that followed the capture of President Maduro and his wife speaks to a deeper crisis of legitimacy of the Maduro government.
The party criticized the Nigerian government for failing to comment on the situation, describing the silence as “deeply embarrassing.” The ADC argued that the silence reflects a moral crisis that undermines the government’s legitimacy. “The Nigerian government’s choice of silence in this moment has nothing to do with neutrality. It instead reveals a government that lacks confidence simply because it lacks integrity,” Mr. Abdullahi said.
The ADC believes that sovereignty must reflect the will of the people rather than the survival of a regime. The party described the situation in Venezuela as “a cautionary tale to all dictators, including the supposedly elected ones, and election riggers everywhere,” warning that “contrived mandates will no longer find a place to hide.” The US carried out a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Maduro and his wife, in an operation conducted in conjunction with US law enforcement agencies. The development has sparked a national emergency in Venezuela, with the government accusing the United States of “extremely serious military aggression.”
