…As President jokes about ‘scattering’ opposition
President Bola Tinubu and 10th Senate President, Godswill Akpabio yesterday stirred political debate with remarks hinting at intensifying maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as concerns over rising insecurity persist across Nigeria.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) headquarters in Abuja, Tinubu jokingly suggested deploying Akpabio to the opposition camp to destabilise it. “I will send you to the other side to represent me. And then you can scatter them any way you want. They’re confused!” the president quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
However, Akpabio struck a more serious tone in his goodwill message, alleging that the recent spike in insecurity nationwide is politically motivated and tied to efforts to undermine Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 elections. “You’re seeing insecurity today, and it’s even increasing because the election is coming. As soon as the election is over, for the first two weeks you will not hear a single bomb blast because people are sponsoring it to distract you”, he said.
The Senate President also pointed to what he described as growing political consolidation around Tinubu, claiming that the president now enjoys the backing of a majority of state governors, compared to the 18 he had at the start of his administration.
He further weighed-in on controversy surrounding an alleged social media post linked to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, dismissing claims of electoral bias and noting that the post in question predated the chairman’s appointment. INEC has since denied that the account belongs to its chairman.
Akpabio’s remarks come amid heightened security concerns across the country. In recent days, violent incidents have escalated, including deadly attacks on military formations in Borno State that claimed the lives of senior officers and soldiers.
In the North-East, a Nigerian Air Force airstrike targeting insurgents reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, drawing criticism from rights groups and raising fresh questions about operational accuracy.
The worsening security situation has also attracted international attention. The United States Department of State recently authorised the voluntary departure of non-essential embassy staff from Abuja, citing safety concerns.
Amid the tension, President Tinubu continued consultations with security chiefs, holding a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa on Monday as part of ongoing efforts to curb the violence.
