IDNN Politics & Governance Desk
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant clemency to 175 inmates has triggered a wave of public criticism and political uproar, with opposition figures describing the move as a betrayal of his anti-corruption and law-and-order credentials.
The list, released by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) and ratified by the President on Friday, included high-profile names convicted for drug trafficking, armed robbery, and murder. Among them was Maryam Sanda, serving a death sentence for the murder of her husband, and several notorious narcotics offenders jailed by the NDLEA.
Civil society organisations reacted swiftly. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) called the list “a mockery of justice and a national disgrace,” while human rights lawyers warned it “undermines public trust in judicial accountability.”
Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar questioned the rationale behind granting mercy to drug offenders at a time Nigeria seeks international co-operation against narcotics trade.
“The pardon list sends a wrong message to our youth and the world. Governance must be anchored on moral clarity, not convenience,” Atiku said in a statement.
The Presidency defended the decision, arguing that the clemency exercise was based on compassion and recommendations from state governors and the Attorney-General of the Federation. It said most beneficiaries had served long terms and shown remorse or terminal illness.
MERCY IN THE BALANCE
Presidential pardon exercises are common in Nigeria, often linked to national celebrations or religious festivals. However, critics note that the current list follows increased NDLEA crackdowns on narcotics traffickers and ongoing public campaigns for judicial reform.
Analysts warn that this timing undermines Nigeria’s credibility in its anti-drug diplomacy and could strain relations with partner agencies in Asia and Europe. The National Council of Women Societies condemned Maryam Sanda’s inclusion, saying it “re-opens the wounds of domestic violence victims and their families.”
JUSTICE BOX
🔹 175 beneficiaries across federal and state custodial facilities.
🔹 21 convicted for drug offences; 14 for violent crimes.
🔹 NDLEA and Prisons Service yet to publish release timetable.
🔹 Public confidence in clemency process drops to 32% — IDNN instant poll.
MORAL FIRESTORM
The pardon list has ignited a national debate on what mercy means in public office. For some, forgiveness is a virtue of statecraft; for others, it represents the softening of justice for the well-connected.
The optic of a government pardoning drug convicts in a country fighting addiction crises and border trafficking is politically costly. The backlash speaks to a broader desire for ethical governance where mercy does not erode deterrence.
THE OPTICS MARKET OF MERCY
Public policy has a market of perception. Every decision spends or earns political capital. This clemency list spent more than it earned. While faith-based groups celebrate mercy as grace, the urban policy class views it as brand damage — a government seen as inconsistent in its moral messaging.
For investors and foreign partners, symbolism matters: rule of law equals predictability; predictability equals risk control. By clouding its moral clarity, the administration risks a dip in confidence indexes that measure governance stability.
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