Follow Us on Google
By Sydney Elike
As we draw the curtains on 2025, it is imperative to look back on the major events that shaped Nigeria’s politics.
From federal-state tensions, opposition realignments, and security controversies with international dimensions to preparations for the 2027 election, 2025 was wrought with key events not soon lost to memory.
Below are seven of them:
Declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State
With tensions arising from the standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, things went up a notch on March 25, 2025, when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
Addressing Nigerians in a nationwide broadcast, the president stated that he had received “disturbing security reports detailing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them”.
Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the lawmakers in the state’s parliament were suspended for six months, sparking heated conversations around the president’s executive powers.
Mass defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Like a tsunami sweeping across a doomed city, the ruling party gained significant party members.
Notable defectors are Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oberevwori, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, and Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri.
While weakening the opposition’s cohesion, the wave of defections strengthened the APC’s dominance ahead of the 2027 polls.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) emerges as a Third Force
Born from the need to challenge the ruling party and oust the present administration, the ADC positioned itself as a viable alternative amid opposition disarray.
Boasting historical ties to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, attracting political figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, the ADC has undoubtedly injected new dynamics into the opposition landscape.
Alleged coup plot and military leadership shake-up
As rumours of an impending coup circulated, President Tinubu acted swiftly, announcing major changes in the military hierarchy.
While questions around political stability came to the fore, the development intensified scrutiny of national security and loyalty within the armed forces.
Supreme Court ruling on Local Government autonomy
In July 2025, the Supreme Court affirmed greater financial and administrative independence for the 774 local governments in the country.
The ruling reduced state interference, bolstering grassroots democracy while creating tensions with state governors.
Subsequently, the verdict necessitated Senate bills for reforms in a move that reshaped power distribution at the subnational level.
U.S. airstrikes on ISIS targets in Northwest Nigeria
In an unprecedented show of force, the United States military under President Donald Trump’s orders launched missile airstrikes on Islamic State camps in Sokoto State.
Trump had warned of military intervention over what he termed the genocidal killing of Nigerian Christians amid debates on sovereignty, religious narratives, and US-Nigeria relations.
Party realignments and high-profile cabinet resignations
Scandals and party shifts led to the resignation of several cabinet ministers as preparations for the 2027 elections began to take shape.
The changes marked the current administration’s determination on consolidating power while facing criticisms over economic reforms and governance.
