By Peter Omopo
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to review the recent presidential pardon list, describing the move as a demonstration of “institutional strength, constitutional responsibility, and leadership maturity.”
The party’s defence came amid sharp criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who labelled the reversal of some pardons — including that of convicted murderer Maryam Sanda — as “an act of shame, not wisdom.”
Atiku, through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, had accused the Tinubu administration of lacking moral consistency and transparency, questioning how certain convicts made the original list.
In a swift response, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Hon. Seye Oladejo, dismissed Atiku’s remarks as “a cocktail of ignorance, frustration, and political bitterness from a camp desperate for attention.”
Oladejo said President Tinubu’s decision to revisit the pardon process was guided by due process and national interest, not emotional or populist impulses.
“Unlike the impulsive and uninformed commentary that has become the trademark of the opposition, President Tinubu’s leadership is anchored on law, order, and good governance,” Oladejo said in a statement issued Thursday in Lagos.
He added, “In advanced democracies, the capacity to review and reconsider administrative decisions is a sign of institutional maturity, not weakness. Only in the shallow corners of the opposition’s imagination does due process translate to a U-turn.”
The APC spokesman accused Atiku of engaging in “bitterness-driven politics,” urging Nigerians to “ignore the latest media convulsions from a defeated politician’s corner.”
“President Tinubu is building institutions, not playing to the gallery or indulging social media theatrics,” he said. “While responsible leaders focus on progress, petty politicians rant for relevance.”
Oladejo further stated that the Tinubu administration remains committed to upholding constitutional discipline and strengthening the justice system through accountability and transparency.
“President Tinubu will continue to lead with courage and clarity of purpose — not the bitterness and confusion that have defined those repeatedly rejected at the polls,” he added.
Political observers say the exchange underscores the widening gulf between the ruling APC and the opposition PDP as both parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
