Politics

Bwala Denies Alleging Tinubu Formed Militia to Influence 2023 Election

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 7th, 2026.

Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has rejected claims that he previously accused the president of establishing a militia to manipulate the 2023 presidential election.

Bwala addressed the issue during an appearance on the television programme Head to Head on Al Jazeera, hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan. The discussion focused on the performance of the current administration under the theme examining whether the government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda reflects real progress or unmet expectations.

During the exchange, Hasan referred to a comment reportedly made by Bwala in January 2023 while he was still aligned with the opposition political camp. According to Hasan, the remark suggested that Tinubu had allegedly created a militia to influence the outcome of the election.

Bwala, however, firmly rejected the claim during the interview.

“Tinubu didn’t create a militia, and I never said that,” he stated.

The host also referenced another alleged statement suggesting suspicious movement of cash into Tinubu’s residence during the election period. Bwala again dismissed the assertion, insisting that he never made such a claim.

Clips circulating online have previously shown Bwala criticizing Tinubu during the election season and alleging intimidation from individuals he associated with the president’s political camp. When those remarks were raised during the programme, Bwala again denied making the claims attributed to him.

“I never said that,” he responded.

Reflecting on his political stance during the campaign period, Bwala explained that his earlier comments came at a time when he was part of the opposition and actively involved in the presidential campaign of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

According to him, statements made during that period should be viewed within the context of political rivalry.

He noted that opposition figures often adopt combative rhetoric as part of the political process, emphasizing that “the job of opposition is to oppose.”

Bwala added that his current role in government involves communicating and defending the policies and programmes of the administration, which he said reflects a different responsibility from his previous position in partisan politics.

The interview forms part of a broader international discussion examining Nigeria’s political landscape since the 2023 general election and the direction of the current administration.