The African Democratic Congress has criticised the Federal Government over its failure to react to the political crisis in Venezuela, describing the silence as a sign of lost confidence and declining international relevance.
The party said the arrest and planned trial of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States should serve as a warning to Nigeria and other countries with questionable democratic processes.
In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the development reflected growing global intolerance for illegitimate governments and compromised elections.
Maduro was arrested on Saturday following a United States military operation authorised by President Donald Trump. He and his wife were later airlifted to New York to face charges bordering on drug trafficking and arms-related offences.
Reacting to the incident, the ADC faulted the Nigerian government for failing to issue any official response, noting that several countries and global leaders had already spoken on the matter.
The party described the silence as a national embarrassment, alleging that it was driven by fear within the Tinubu-led administration.
“The African Democratic Congress considers the arrest of the President of Venezuela and his wife as a clear warning that sends a strong message to governments that lack legitimacy,” the statement said.
While affirming its support for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference as contained in the United Nations Charter, the ADC argued that such principles should not be used to protect tyranny, electoral fraud, or the denial of citizens’ democratic rights.
The party recalled that Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election was widely condemned by governments across Latin America, the European Union, and international democratic institutions over allegations of fraud, repression, and the exclusion of opposition candidates.
According to the ADC, the disputed election triggered mass migration that destabilised the region.
“Although the United States intervention raises serious questions under international law, the public celebrations that followed in Venezuela reveal the depth of the crisis of legitimacy facing the Maduro government,” the party said.
The ADC further expressed concern that more than 48 hours after the incident, Nigeria had yet to issue an official position.
“This silence by the APC-led Tinubu administration shows that Nigeria has lost both voice and standing on the international stage,” it added.
The party insisted that the silence did not reflect neutrality but a lack of confidence rooted in moral and democratic deficits.
“At a time when the world is debating the balance between sovereignty, democracy, and accountability, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is conspicuously absent,” the statement said.
The ADC concluded that the situation in Venezuela should serve as a warning to dictators and election riggers across the world.
“Sovereignty must reflect the will of the people. Democracy must translate into freedom, fairness, and a better life for citizens, whether in Nigeria, Venezuela, or anywhere else,” it stated.
