Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has taken aim at President Bola Tinubu over reports that security personnel were deployed to guard his campaign billboards in Kaduna State, arguing that the protection of political advertisements should not take precedence over the safety of Nigerians.
Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, raised the concern in a social media post on Friday, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally scheduled for October 24.
The former vice-president questioned the rationale behind assigning security operatives to campaign materials while several communities across the country continue to grapple with attacks by bandits and terrorists.
He challenged Tinubu to demonstrate the same level of urgency in protecting ordinary citizens, insisting that the security of Nigerians should command greater attention than efforts to safeguard the President’s political image.
“Your posters enjoy protection that millions of Nigerians can only dream of,” Atiku said, using the reported deployment to highlight what he described as a disconnect between political priorities and the security challenges facing the country.
Reports by The ICIR, Vanguard and Peoples Gazette indicated that personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, alongside Kaduna State traffic authorities, were among those assigned to the billboards.
The development has drawn attention to the use of public security resources during political activities, particularly as concerns over attacks on communities and residents remain a major national issue.
However, Kaduna State officials reportedly explained that the broader security arrangements were part of routine preparations for Tinubu’s visit, rather than measures intended solely to protect campaign advertisements.
The controversy comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with insecurity and the government’s handling of public safety likely to remain significant issues in the emerging campaign debate.
