A wave of backlash has trailed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to grant presidential pardons to 175 individuals, including several convicted drug traffickers, with opposition parties and political figures accusing the administration of undermining Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign and eroding public trust in justice.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were among those who harshly criticised the move, calling it a “dangerous precedent” and “a moral disaster for Nigeria.”
The Presidency on Saturday published the list of those granted pardon and clemency, which included the late nationalist Herbert Macaulay, the late Major General Mamman Vatsa, and Maryam Sanda, convicted for the murder of her husband. Also on the list were over 30 drug offenders and individuals convicted for homicide, fraud, and illegal mining.
In a statement on Sunday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi described the action as “a pathetic and national disgrace,” warning that it undermines Nigeria’s ongoing war against narcotics and emboldens criminal behaviour.
“It amounts to a most irresponsible abuse of presidential power 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,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further argued that presidential clemency should correct miscarriages of justice, not reward serious offenders.
“Granting clemency to individuals convicted under anti-drug laws makes a mockery of the sacrifices of NDLEA officers who risk their lives to keep Nigeria safe,” the party added.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the pardons, saying they “rightly sparked nationwide outrage.” He accused the Tinubu administration of misusing the constitutional power of mercy and sending “a dangerous signal to the world.”
“Extending clemency to individuals convicted of grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption diminishes the sanctity of justice and erodes moral authority,” Atiku said.
The former vice president also noted the “moral irony” of the decision, referencing lingering controversies surrounding Tinubu’s alleged involvement in 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, urging a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s clemency framework.
Atiku concluded that presidential pardons should “symbolise restitution and reform, not complicity,” calling on the government to restore integrity and transparency to the justice system.
The controversy has reignited debate about the scope and ethics of presidential clemency, especially in a country grappling with rising drug abuse and insecurity.
