A fresh controversy has erupted around President Tinubu’s administration after his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was captured in a viral video making comments many Nigerians now consider troubling.
The video, which surfaced online on Monday, shows Gbajabiamila speaking directly to a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, during a private event in Abuja.
The gathering was the 50th birthday celebration of Abejide’s wife, attended by political associates and close allies.
In the clip, the former Speaker openly urged the lawmaker to remain within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and intensify internal resistance within the party. His words have since drawn widespread reactions.
Addressing Abejide, Gbajabiamila said: “I know you to be a committed party man. I know you to be a fighter. I know you to be someone who does not like to be cheated. So please, my charge to you is to stay in that same ADC. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party ADC. Do not abandon them.”
He went further to discourage any move toward the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying: “Don’t mind what the former governor said they will come and join APC. No, no, no. Stay in ADC. Win your re-election in ADC and you will… Nobody can come and take your party away from you. A party that you’ve built with your sweat and your money and everything. Continue. Good luck in court.”
The remarks come at a time when the ADC is battling an internal crisis. The party is currently divided into factions, with Abejide aligned to the group led by Nafiu Bala. The leadership tussle has weakened the party’s structure in several states.
Since the video went public, reactions have poured in, especially on X. Many users accused the ruling party of attempting to weaken opposition platforms ahead of future elections.
A user identified as Isah Ishola described the comments as damaging to the image of the presidency, stating: “This further shows these people are only after politics of destruction… They reduced the office of the president to nothing than business ventures.”
Another user, Oluwadamilare, called the situation a “fight against democracy,” while Lapai Boy said the ruling party would not remain in power forever.
More reactions followed. A user named Thanos blamed institutions, writing, “I don’t blame them, I blame INEC and the judiciary.” Another commentator, TrendPHD, insisted that efforts to destabilise the ADC would fail.
Watch the video
