Buhari’s Burial Ignites Political Firestorm Ahead of 2027 Elections
The death of former President Muhammadu Buhari on July 12, 2025, at age 82 in a London clinic has triggered a political storm in Nigeria, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vying for his northern support base ahead of the 2027 elections. President Bola Tinubu led burial arrangements, dispatching Vice President Kashim Shettima to accompany Buhari’s body from London to Nigeria and attending the interment in Daura, Katsina State, where he bowed to the remains – a gesture widely covered by Nigerian media.
Tinubu also renamed the University of Maiduguri as Muhammadu Buhari University and held a special Federal Executive Council meeting to honor him.
However, the absence of opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai at the burial, coupled with Yemi Osinbajo’s minimal role, fueled accusations of political maneuvering. Former Minister Solomon Dalung noted: “Tinubu might just be giving a befitting burial to a former president.
But those accusing him of trying to exploit Buhari’s death to redeem his political image are not wrong because there was a strained relationship between the former President and his successor.”
Tinubu’s administration had distanced itself from Buhari, frequently blaming him for economic woes. On May 8, 2025, Tinubu stated in Awka: “We met near-insolvent public finances, a decades-old monster of unsustainable multiple subsidies, a chaotic and debilitating forex regime.” The ADC accused Tinubu of hypocrisy, with Interim Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi saying: “You cannot spend months discrediting a man’s legacy only to turn around and perform grief for the cameras.”
The Presidency countered, with Sunday Dare stating: “The ADC is the one exploiting Buhari’s death for political attention, not this government. They have chosen to dance on his grave for relevance.”
The NNPP’s Ladipo Johnson called Tinubu’s actions standard protocol but noted public skepticism due to prior tensions: “If the public believes it was politically motivated, they will respond accordingly.” Peter Ameh of the Coalition of United Political Parties questioned Tinubu’s sincerity, citing a post by Bayo Onanuga debunking claims about Tinubu’s electoral contributions to Buhari: “Buhari’s camp felt humiliated by Tinubu’s administration, particularly with the blame directed at Buhari for the current governance failures.”
APC’s Adeboye Adebayo defended Tinubu, saying: “The President didn’t exploit Buhari’s death; he honored it… Leadership demands maturity. Tinubu, as a bridge-builder, chose national healing over petty sentiments.” He dismissed rift claims, emphasizing their shared APC history. As Buhari’s northern voter base – estimated at 12 million votes – becomes a battleground, his death marks a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s political landscape.
