Abuja, Nigeria — Senate President Godswill Akpabio has claimed that the recent spike in insecurity across Nigeria is politically motivated, alleging that certain actors are deliberately sponsoring violence to influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio made the remarks on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at the inauguration of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) headquarters in Abuja. According to him, the pattern of rising insecurity during election periods suggests deliberate attempts to destabilize the government and distract citizens.
“You’re seeing insecurity today, and it’s even increasing because the election is coming,” he said. “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.”
The Senate President also pointed to what he described as growing political alignment with President Bola Tinubu, noting that the number of governors supporting the president has significantly increased since 2023.
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“He came in with 18 governors, and today he has almost 32 governors under his fold out of 36. So, where do we belong?” Akpabio queried, suggesting that the opposition lacks the structure to challenge the ruling party effectively.
Addressing concerns over the credibility of the electoral process, Akpabio dismissed controversy surrounding an X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly linked to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He argued that the statement attributed to the account did not indicate bias toward any political party. INEC has since denied that its chairman operates the account.
Akpabio’s comments come amid heightened security concerns nationwide. In recent days, violent incidents have escalated, particularly in the North-East. A Nigerian Air Force airstrike reportedly resulted in civilian casualties alongside suspected insurgents, drawing criticism from human rights groups.
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In a separate development, Brigadier General Oseni Braimah was killed in an attack on a military formation in Borno State on April 9, 2026. Another incident earlier this week also claimed the lives of a colonel and several soldiers.
The deteriorating security situation has attracted international attention. The United States Department of State recently authorized the voluntary departure of non-essential embassy staff from Abuja, citing safety concerns.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has held a closed-door meeting with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa as part of ongoing efforts to address the growing insecurity.
As the country edges closer to the 2027 elections, Akpabio’s remarks are likely to intensify political debate over the causes of Nigeria’s security challenges and the role of political actors in shaping them.
