Former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his decision to revoke the presidential pardons granted to some individuals, accusing the administration of "acting before thinking."

This comes after the President cancelled the pardons he had earlier granted to individuals convicted of drug dealing and kidnapping.

Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described the move as “an act of shame, not wisdom,” accusing the government of being reactive and lacking foresight.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

“Once again, Nigerians have witnessed a government that doesn’t lead — it reacts. This U-turn is not an act of wisdom; it’s an act of shame.

If Nigerians had kept quiet, would convicted drug lords and kidnappers be walking free today under the President’s blessing?” Atiku said, describing it as a recurring pattern of poor decision-making by the Tinubu administration.

According to him, Tinubu frequently announces policies without proper consideration and later reverses them following public backlash.

“This pattern has become too familiar — announce the unthinkable, watch the country erupt, then hurriedly reverse course as if governance were a game of trial and error,” he added.

Atiku further stated that a presidential pardon should symbolize justice and mercy, not serve as a reward for impunity.

“A presidential pardon is not a social experiment. It is a sacred constitutional power meant to reflect justice, mercy, and national interest — not to reward impunity or test public patience,” he said.