Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has alleged that President Bola Tinubu forced Mohammed Badaru to resign as Nigeria’s Defence Minister, contrary to official explanations citing health reasons.
Badaru submitted his resignation on Monday night in a letter dated December 1, 2025, stating that health challenges necessitated his departure from the cabinet position.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, confirmed that the President accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for Badaru’s service. He indicated that Nigerians should anticipate the announcement of a replacement this week.
However, Sowore disputed the official narrative in a Facebook post, claiming the resignation was orchestrated to facilitate a strategic reshuffle within the defence leadership.
“He was asked by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step aside to make room for former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa to be appointed Defence Minister,” Sowore alleged.
The activist went further to suggest that the shake-up extends beyond Badaru’s position, claiming that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is also facing pressure to leave office.
According to Sowore, international concerns over Nigeria’s security performance and intelligence cooperation have put Matawalle’s position in jeopardy.
“There are also strong indications that United States President Donald Trump’s United States military is pressing for the removal of the equally ineffective and utterly useless Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, citing serious concerns over intelligence sharing and collaboration,” he stated.
The Presidency has not responded to Sowore’s allegations, and there has been no official confirmation regarding General Christopher Musa’s potential appointment as Defence Minister.
Similarly, neither the US government nor the Nigerian Ministry of Defence has commented on the claims about external pressure regarding Matawalle’s position.
Badaru, a former Governor of Jigawa State, was appointed Defence Minister in August 2023 during President Tinubu’s initial cabinet formation.
His tenure has been marked by ongoing security challenges, including persistent banditry in the Northwest, insurgency in the Northeast, and kidnapping incidents across multiple states.
As Nigerians await official announcements regarding the defence ministry’s leadership, Sowore’s claims have added another layer of controversy to what was initially presented as a straightforward health-related resignation.
