The African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticized Nigeria's government on January 6, 2026, for failing to condemn the United States' military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling the muted response diplomatically embarrassing. The party highlighted Nigeria's historic ties with Venezuela OPEC partners since 1971 as reason for a firmer sovereignty defense stance.
Nigeria and Venezuela marked 60 years of relations in 2025 with pledges for deeper oil, education, and trade cooperation, including direct flights and Maduro's claimed Nigerian ancestry. ADC argues silence amid Trump's "hemisphere dominance" rhetoric risks similar interventions, echoing Femi Falana's warnings against foreign-fueled religious conflicts.
While official statements remain scarce, experts like Dr. Yemi Farounbi labeled the raid a "dangerous precedent" where might trumps right, and groups like the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign reaffirmed support for Maduro. US polls show low approval (33%) for the action, amplifying calls for Nigeria's balanced voice.
ADC's critique fits rising 2027 election tensions, INEC's voter registration relaunch, and domestic insecurity like Kaduna's journalist abduction, urging principled foreign policy over expediency. Venezuelan interim leaders face Trump's oil demands under naval watch.