Senate President Godswill Akpabio has alleged that the recent spike in insecurity across Nigeria is politically driven and linked to preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio made the remark on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at the inauguration of the Nigeria Revenue Service headquarters. He suggested that certain actors were deliberately sponsoring violence to destabilise the country and distract from the administration of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the next electoral cycle.
According to him, the pattern of insecurity tends to rise as elections approach, only to subside shortly after voting concludes. He argued that such incidents are not coincidental but rather orchestrated efforts aimed at weakening public confidence in the government and disrupting political momentum.
“You’re seeing insecurity today, and it’s increasing because the election is coming,” Akpabio said. “Once the elections are over, for a period, you may not hear of such incidents. This suggests that some individuals are sponsoring these acts to create distractions.”
The Senate President also pointed to what he described as growing political support for Tinubu, noting that more state governors have aligned with the President since the 2023 elections. He argued that this expanding influence has strengthened the administration’s political structure, making it more difficult for opposition forces to compete effectively.
Akpabio further addressed recent controversy surrounding an alleged social media account linked to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu. He dismissed claims that the account indicated bias, explaining that the statement in question was made before Yakubu assumed office and should not be interpreted as evidence of partisanship.
The electoral body has since denied any connection between its chairman and the account in question.
Akpabio’s comments come amid growing nationwide concern over security challenges, following a series of violent incidents reported in different parts of the country in recent days.
