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Morocco has released three Senegalese football fans who were imprisoned following the violent unrest that marred the Africa Cup of Nations Final 2025 in Rabat.

The trio regained their freedom on Saturday after completing three-month jail terms handed down for their roles in the clashes that erupted during the high-tension final.

The supporters were among a group of Senegalese fans arrested and prosecuted over incidents including hooliganism, vandalism, and attempted pitch invasion during the chaotic showdown.

Authorities confirmed the released fans had served the shortest sentences, while others convicted over the violence remain in custody serving longer jail terms.

The unrest during the final sparked diplomatic concern and drew criticism from officials in Senegal, further straining tensions in the aftermath of one of the most controversial finals in AFCON history.

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The African Democratic Congress has warned President Bola Tinubu to be concerned about a possible electoral defeat in 2027, saying that widespread hardship and worsening living conditions have eroded public confidence in his administration’s policies.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said Tinubu appears increasingly detached from the realities of hardship, insecurity, and widespread frustration confronting millions of Nigerians.

Reacting to criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Peter Obi (Anambra) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), among other African Democratic Congress leaders during their April 14 national convention, President Tinubu said he cannot be intimidated, while accusing the coalition figures of trying to privatise the ADC and describing their gathering as a “street convention.”

In response, the ADC described the President’s comments as unpresidential, alleging that he appears more focused on politics while many Nigerians continue to grapple with worsening poverty and increasing vulnerability to insurgency and kidnappings.

The party stated, “The African Democratic Congress has taken note of the comments made by Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa concerning the ADC and the state of the opposition. What Nigerians saw was not the confidence of a leader in control. It was the anxiety of a President increasingly disconnected from the reality of hardship, insecurity, and frustration facing millions of citizens.

“At a time when families are battling a historic cost-of-living crisis, food inflation, rising debt burdens, and collapsing purchasing power, the President chose to mock the opposition instead of addressing the suffering of Nigerians. However, even as he spoke, reports of children being abducted from examination centres were circulating. This is the reality of today’s Nigeria, insecurity spreading deeper into everyday life while the government appears distracted.

“The President should not be ridiculing the opposition. He should be deeply concerned that the majority of Nigerians have rejected his government, whose ill-conceived policies have ruined lives and destroyed livelihoods. These are the reasons he should be scared, because the people are determined to vote him out.”

ADC also dismissed what they described as a misleading account of the party’s National Convention.

It added, “We did not hold our convention on the street. If that was the story supplied to the President by agents of disruption, then he has been misinformed.

“But even if any opposition party were forced to gather outside established venues, Nigerians would understand why. Under this administration, democratic space has shrunk significantly. No government before now had denied political parties fair access to public venues such as Eagle Square, a national civic ground that belongs to all Nigerians, not to any ruling party.

“The President also cannot preach separation of powers while simultaneously assuming the role of interpreter of the law, political referee, and commentator on judicial matters. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be a President and a judge at the same time.

“If this administration truly respected the separation of powers, Nigerians would not have witnessed the repeated weakening and humiliation of institutions meant to serve as checks and balances. The legislature, in particular, has too often appeared reduced to an extension of executive convenience.”

The party also accused the President of recently trying to win over supporters of the late Muhammadu Buhari, saying it was hypocritical to distance himself from Buhari’s record in the past only to reverse course ahead of the election.

It added, “The issue before the country today is simple: hardship is rising, insecurity is worsening, debt is mounting, and hope is fading. No amount of political theatre can hide that truth.

“The ADC remains focused on building a credible alternative anchored on competence, security, prosperity, and democratic freedom. Nigerians deserve better than excuses, propaganda, and power games.”

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Plateau Peace Advocates for Good Governance and Social Stability, PPAGGSS has called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State to resist divisive tendencies and preserve what it described as a rare moment of political unity across the state.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim D. Lengshak, the group warned that allowing internal cracks within the party could reverse the gains recorded in recent efforts to stabilise the state politically and socially.

According to the group, Plateau is witnessing an unprecedented level of political convergence, cutting across party lines and interests, a development it said should not be sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition or external manipulation.
PPAGGSS specifically cautioned both longstanding members of the APC and new entrants into the party to avoid actions or utterances and promotion of divisions and sharing ratios only known to those promoting the division.

The group urged party faithful to draw inspiration from leading political figures in the state, including Governor Caleb Mutfwang, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, and former governor Simon Lalong, whom it credited with setting aside political differences to foster cohesion.
“So far, these leaders have not disappointed us in their common zeal for the good of the state and the party and it behoves those who claim to support them not to break ranks.

“The unity we are beginning to see on the Plateau is not accidental. It is the product of deliberate efforts by leaders who have chosen to rise above differences for the common good,” Ishaku said.
PPAGGSS noted that the alignment among these leaders represents a strategic foundation for peace and development, stressing that their example should guide grassroots supporters and stakeholders within the party.

The group also raised concern over what it described as the activities of “divisive elements” seeking to exploit perceived differences within the APC for personal gain.

“These are individuals who neither laboured for the present stability nor contributed to the building of consensus, yet they are eager to sow discord for selfish reasons,” the statement said.
It warned that such tendencies, if unchecked, could plunge the state back into a cycle of political fragmentation that has historically undermined governance and security.

Emphasising the broader implications of unity, PVD said that a cohesive political front is essential in addressing the lingering security challenges affecting communities across Plateau.

According to the group, insecurity remains a shared concern that transcends political affiliations, making it imperative for stakeholders to close ranks rather than deepen divisions.
“Plateau cannot afford to return to an era where political differences weaken collective resolve. The threats we face today require unity, cooperation, and a shared commitment to peace,” Ishaku added.

The group, therefore, urged APC members to project a united front in both words and actions, stressing that sustaining the current atmosphere of cooperation would be critical in consolidating peace, strengthening governance, and advancing development across the state.