Adamu Garba Warns Tinubu Over Sycophants, Says North's Political Shift Deepened After Buhari’s Death

Abuja, Nigeria – Former presidential aspirant and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, has raised serious concerns about what he describes as a growing disconnect between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the realities on ground—especially in Northern Nigeria—following the exit and recent death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Garba issued a stern warning to the presidency, alleging that sycophants surrounding President Tinubu are painting a misleading picture of the nation's political and social conditions.

“There is a lot of sycophants around the president; people are telling him that things are okay – things are not okay,” he said, emphasizing the urgent need for truthful leadership and internal party reforms.

"Northern Bloc is No Longer a Given" – Garba

Garba also addressed the shifting political dynamics in the North, particularly since Buhari’s exit from power in 2023 and his death in early July 2025.

“The 12 million northern bloc votes that Buhari was known to have gotten in previous elections before his eventual victory in 2015 were no longer available, even before his death,” Garba stated.

He revealed that during the 2023 elections, the APC managed just 5.5 million votes from the North, signaling a massive decline from the Buhari-era voting strength.

“Buhari left the presidency in 2023, and when you look at the outcome of the 2023 election, the APC had only 5.5 million votes in the North. Where were the 12 million votes?” he asked rhetorically.

Despite this decline, Garba acknowledged that APC still won the 2023 elections, attributing the victory to well-coordinated systems and campaign strategies.

“We won the election based on the system that was established, the structures in place, and the strategies deployed. What we need now is to re-engineer our strategies again now with his absence.”

Call for Internal Party Reform Amid ADC Threat

Garba’s remarks come as the coalition ADC (African Democratic Congress) publicly vows to unseat President Tinubu. He stressed that now more than ever, the APC must be honest about its internal challenges and the broader public perception.

“They (ADC coalition) hope for our loss, and that is why we need to be serious,” he warned.
“We need a leadership that is capable of listening to criticisms and accepting the facts without any flattery.”

Buhari’s Legacy and Northern Influence

The late President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in early July 2025, was known for his deep-rooted support base across Northern Nigeria. Many political observers believe his absence may trigger a realignment of northern political loyalties, a shift Garba hinted could threaten APC’s dominance if not strategically addressed.

As of now, the long-term impact of Buhari’s death on APC's political strength remains uncertain, but insiders like Garba are urging proactive reforms to maintain the ruling party’s grip ahead of future elections.