“Trump Wants Tinubu Out in 2027, Tinubu Backed Kamala Harris Against Him” — Abuja Professor Alleges
By Passman Akpos
A Professor of International Relations at the University of Abuja, Abubakar Sadeeque Abba, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu supported the 2024 United States presidential campaign of former Vice President Kamala Harris because of concerns that a Donald Trump presidency could jeopardise his chances of securing reelection in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
Abba made the claims during an appearance on Trust TV’s Sunday Politics programme while discussing recent comments by US President Donald Trump and growing calls in Washington for possible action over allegations of killings targeting Christians in Nigeria.
According to the professor, the renewed pressure from the United States, including discussions about redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom issues, is driven more by geopolitical and strategic interests than humanitarian concerns.
He argued that the United States is increasingly focused on influencing Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.
Abba claimed that one of Washington’s key objectives is to prevent President Tinubu from securing a second term in office. He further alleged that Tinubu was among several international leaders who mobilised financial support for Kamala Harris’s unsuccessful presidential campaign because they believed a Trump victory would create wider global political challenges.
According to the professor, French President Emmanuel Macron and other foreign leaders allegedly adopted similar positions in support of Harris.
Abba further claimed that President Trump has not forgotten those who allegedly worked against his return to the White House, suggesting that recent rhetoric directed at Nigeria forms part of a broader political response.
Expressing confidence in his claims, the professor stated during the television interview that he was willing to swear by the Quran that his allegations were true.
Speaking on the changing posture of successive US administrations towards Nigeria, Abba recalled that during Trump’s first administration, Nigeria was designated a Country of Particular Concern over concerns relating to religious freedom and violence affecting Christians.
He noted that the administration of former President Joe Biden later removed Nigeria from the CPC list, arguing that the differing decisions reflected changing political priorities in Washington rather than fundamental changes in the security situation.
Abba also referenced longstanding campaigns by some Nigerians urging the Biden administration to release additional US government records relating to allegations involving President Tinubu, including claims connected to drug trafficking and money laundering during his time in the United States.
However, while agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other US authorities did not release additional records during Biden’s presidency, there is no public evidence that the documents were withheld as part of any political arrangement. Requests for such records are governed by US freedom of information laws, privacy protections, court rulings and national security exemptions.
The allegations concerning Tinubu’s past in the United States have largely centred on a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving approximately $460,000 seized from bank accounts linked to him after US authorities raised concerns over possible connections to narcotics-related proceeds.
President Tinubu has consistently denied involvement in drug trafficking or any criminal activity, maintaining that the funds originated from legitimate business ventures. Although the money was forfeited to US authorities through a civil settlement, Tinubu was never convicted of any drug trafficking or drug-related criminal offence.
Abba maintained that President Trump’s current position on Nigeria is not primarily about protecting Christians or Muslims, nor about addressing insecurity across the country.
Instead, he argued that American foreign policy is largely shaped by strategic interests, including Nigeria’s vast crude oil reserves, lithium deposits and other critical minerals considered vital amid intensifying global competition with China and shifting geopolitical priorities in the Middle East.
Drawing historical comparisons, the professor cited what he described as pressure allegedly mounted by the administration of former US President Barack Obama on then-President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of Nigeria’s 2015 general election.
He argued that successive American administrations have consistently prioritised US national interests over humanitarian considerations in their engagement with African countries.
Abba also questioned the prolonged insurgency in Nigeria, asking how terrorist organisations such as Boko Haram had continued to obtain funding and sophisticated weapons for more than two decades.
He suggested that foreign interests have contributed to instability across parts of Africa, pointing to the aftermath of the 2011 overthrow of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as an example of external intervention with lasting regional consequences.
On the possibility of direct American military involvement in Nigeria, the professor dismissed the prospect, insisting that any foreign military intervention would be strongly resisted.
He declared that Nigeria would become “a graveyard for imperial ambitions” if foreign forces attempted military action on Nigerian soil.
Abba concluded by urging Nigerians to strengthen national unity, improve governance at both federal and state levels, and pursue homegrown solutions to the country’s political and security challenges rather than relying on foreign governments.
Editor’s Note: The claims made by Professor Abubakar Sadeeque Abba regarding President Tinubu’s alleged support for Kamala Harris’s campaign and the motivations of the Trump administration are his opinions and allegations expressed during a television interview. No public evidence has been presented to independently substantiate these specific claims, and President Tinubu or the Nigerian Presidency had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
