Ex-APC spokesman warns against politicising insecurity ahead of 2027 elections

A former Lagos State spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Seye Oladejo, has cautioned against the politicisation of insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Oladejo, in a statement on Monday in Lagos, alleged that some political actors were attempting to exploit security challenges for electoral advantage.

He said the recent resurgence of terrorist activities, banditry and attacks on communities should not be viewed solely through a political lens.

According to him, the timing of recent security incidents raises concerns about efforts to create fear and erode public confidence in national institutions.

“As Nigeria gradually moves towards the 2027 general elections, a troubling pattern is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

“Across various parts of the country, there has been a noticeable resurgence of insecurity, renewed terrorist activity, coordinated attacks on communities, and a steady attempt to amplify fear and uncertainty within the public space.

“To dismiss these developments as mere coincidence would be to ignore both history and common sense,” he said.

Oladejo said Nigerians had witnessed similar situations at critical political periods when vested interests allegedly sought to exploit instability.

“Nigeria has witnessed this script before.

“At critical political junctures, when electoral contests begin to take shape and political interests become heightened, forces that thrive on instability often emerge from the shadows.

“They exploit existing fault lines, sponsor narratives of despair, fuel public anxiety, and seek to create the impression of a nation under siege,” he said.

The APC chieftain urged citizens to critically assess narratives surrounding insecurity and question who stood to gain from a climate of fear and instability.

“The Nigerian people must ask themselves a fundamental question: Who benefits from a climate of fear and instability?

“Certainly not the farmer whose crops are abandoned because of insecurity. Certainly not the trader whose business suffers.

“Certainly not the young graduate searching for opportunities. Certainly not the families who simply desire peace and stability,” he said.

Oladejo alleged that some opposition figures had turned national security challenges into political tools.

“The beneficiaries are often those who view every national challenge through the narrow prism of political advantage.

“They see insecurity not as a tragedy to be defeated but as a tool to be exploited.

“They see terrorism not merely as a security threat but as an opportunity to score partisan points and advance political ambitions,” he said.

He expressed concern that insecurity was increasingly being used to shape political narratives ahead of the next general election.

“Increasingly, it appears that what the opposition has lost in cohesion, direction, and confidence in its electoral prospects, it seeks to regain through a politics of fear and national pessimism.

“Unable to offer a compelling alternative vision capable of inspiring Nigerians, some have resorted to celebrating every setback, amplifying every tragedy, and portraying every security challenge as evidence of state failure.

“One cannot help but observe that there are political actors who seem to derive satisfaction from every disturbing headline, every security breach, and every moment of national anxiety,” he said.

Oladejo said no patriotic Nigerian should derive political benefit from the suffering of citizens.

“Rather than rallying the nation towards solutions, they appear content to weaponise public fear for partisan advantage.

“In their desperate quest for political relevance, they risk creating an atmosphere in which instability becomes a political asset and national distress becomes campaign material.

“No patriotic Nigerian should ever find comfort in circumstances that bring the nation to its knees,” he said.

He stressed that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping should not be treated as partisan issues.

“Terrorism is not a partisan issue. Banditry is not a partisan issue. Kidnapping is not a partisan issue.

“The blood of innocent Nigerians does not carry party membership cards.

“Every attack on a Nigerian community is an attack on the Nigerian state itself, regardless of who occupies political office at any given time,” he said.

Oladejo called for national unity and support for security agencies in confronting criminal elements.

“At moments such as this, patriotic leaders should be rallying behind security agencies, supporting intelligence-gathering efforts, encouraging community vigilance, and strengthening national cohesion.

“What Nigeria requires is a united front against those who seek to destabilise the country—not a competition to extract political profit from the suffering of citizens.
“This is the time for unity,” he said.

The former APC spokesman said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited longstanding security challenges and had taken steps to address them.

“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited deeply entrenched security challenges that developed over many years.

“Yet there is ample evidence of sustained efforts to strengthen the military, improve intelligence capabilities, modernise security operations, and confront criminal networks across the country.

“While challenges remain, it would be both dishonest and irresponsible to pretend that progress has not been made,” he said.

Oladejo urged political leaders to place national interest above partisan considerations as the country approaches the 2027 elections.

“Nigeria must reject this cynical politics. The nation stands at a critical crossroads.

“As 2027 approaches, citizens must be vigilant against those who seek to transform insecurity into a campaign platform and terrorism into a political strategy,” he said.

He added that the fight against terrorism required collective sacrifice, vigilance and national unity.

“The struggle against terrorism is a national cause. It demands collective sacrifice, unwavering vigilance, and a unity of purpose that transcends politics.

“For in the final analysis, a secure Nigeria is in the interest of every Nigerian, while an unstable Nigeria serves only the ambitions of those who place power above country,” he said.