The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to step aside from office while an independent investigation is carried out into the death of Mary Habila, who reportedly died inside his private residence.
The announcement was made public on Wednesday via X. The party, through the National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the case demands a transparent inquiry that is free from executive control because it involves the death of a Nigerian in the home of a serving cabinet minister.
Earlier reports stated that 26-year-old Mary Habila died at Umahi’s residence. Umahi himself was said to have confirmed the incident.
The opposition party insisted that public confidence in the outcome of the case will depend on the independence of the investigation.
This development begs answers from the Federal Government as questions continue over the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death. The ADC said that the issue is no longer a private matter because it involves a public official holding one of the country’s highest offices.
It said only an independent process backed by evidence can answer public questions and strengthen trust in state institutions.
The party said Senator Umahi should temporarily leave office until investigators complete their work. It argued that allowing him to remain in office while the investigation continues could weaken public confidence in the process.
The ADC also demanded a full autopsy to establish the exact cause of Habila’s death and called for the findings of the investigation to be released publicly. It said Nigerians deserve clear answers on the nature of Habila’s assignment, why she was staying at the minister’s private residence and what investigators have established about the circumstances of her death.
It was also noted that the inquiry must be completely independent of the executive arm of government and that anything short of that would leave many questions unanswered and reduce confidence in the country’s justice system.
The party said, “The least that should be expected is that the Minister, namely Senator David Umahi, should immediately step aside from office pending the conclusion of an independent investigation.”
The ADC linked its demand to what it called a pattern of political protection for senior government officials whenever allegations surface against them. It accused the Tinubu administration of shielding appointees instead of allowing independent scrutiny to take its course.
The party argued that official responses should focus on establishing facts rather than defending public office holders before investigations are completed. It said public trust depends on transparent procedures rather than assurances from government.
The opposition also said the case differs from political disputes because it centres on the reported death of a young woman inside the residence of a serving minister. It maintained that accountability should take priority and that no public official should continue in office while such serious questions remain unresolved.
The ADC further argued that if President Bola Tinubu does not insist on an independent investigation and the minister’s temporary exit from office, Nigerians could lose confidence in the administration’s commitment to transparency.
The party expressed sympathy to Habila’s family and said they deserve the truth about what happened. It maintained that the outcome of the investigation will be important not only for the family but also for public confidence in government accountability and the justice system.