Faces behind ‘Tinubu Must Go’ campaign

Tinubu Must Go, a slogan that began as scattered chants during Democracy Day protests in June 2026, has since crystallized into a coordinated movement.

On Tuesday, five men were arrested in Maiduguri, Borno State, on allegations that they were spotted wearing the T-Shirts of the movement but the police on Wednesday refuted the claim, saying they were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of drugs.

The Borno State Police Command explained that the arrest and prosecution of five youths were strictly due to alleged drug possession and public disturbance, refuting widespread social media reports that the men were targeted for wearing political T-shirts.

The clarification comes in the wake of backlash and condemnation from groups including Amnesty International and the Borno State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Critics had taken to conversational and social media platforms to denounce the arrests as an arbitrary clampdown on free speech, following claims that the youths were detained solely for wearing shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”

However, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Command’s Spokesman, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, dismissed the political narrative, maintaining that the suspects were apprehended over alleged thuggery, inciting public disturbance, and the possession of illicit substances.

According to the police, the five suspects, identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio, and Abdulhamid Mohammed, were arrested on September 25, 2026, at approximately 6pm.

ASP Daso stated that the arrest was made by officers on a routine township patrol around the West-end roundabout after the suspects engaged in conduct deemed capable of causing a public breach of peace.

The police listed the items recovered from the suspects during the operation. They include 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, one shisha pot, a pair of scissors, and the two controversial T-shirts bearing the “Tinubu Must Go” inscription.

The police spokesperson noted that preliminary investigations were conducted, statements were obtained, and the suspects were subsequently charged to court upon the completion of initial police inquiries.

“The command wishes to categorically state that the Nigeria Police Force is a professional, non-partisan institution and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of political affiliation or viewpoint,” ASP Daso stated.

The police added that bringing the matter before a court of law was necessary to allow the judicial process to take its natural course.

The case was mentioned at the Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri, and all the five defendants pleaded not guilty.

Many have condemned the arrest of the youths including Amnesty International, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Borno State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

How the movement started

How a movement which started in Kano has spread to the North Eastern state of Borno drawing activists, opposition politicians, and ordinary Nigerians has drawn the curiosity of many.

Our correspondent was able to establish that the movement was founded by human rights lawyers and activists Abba Hikima Fagge and Hamza Nuhu Dantani.

When contacted by our correspondent, the duo confirmed starting the movement, explaining that TMG is a non-partisan platform for public enlightenment, with the sole aim of mobilising Nigerians to reject President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027.

Daily Trust observed that it has attracted the support of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, now of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and has sparked coalition talks among opposition parties.

Through online polls, town halls, and grassroots campaigns, the movement has sought to channel public anger into political action. Its organisers argue that TMG represents a historic opportunity to unite Nigeria’s fragmented opposition under a single banner.

Yet, the campaign has also faced repression, with some arrested in Maiduguri for wearing “Tinubu Must Go” shirts.

Why we founded the movement – Co-convener

For Barrister Hamza Nuhu Dantani, one of the conveners of TMG, the movement was born out of dissatisfaction with what he described as the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, insecurity and what he sees as growing hardship among ordinary Nigerians.

He cited the removal of fuel subsidy, rising petroleum and commodity prices, taxation and insecurity as some of the issues that motivated the activists behind the campaign.

“What inspired us to establish this movement is looking at the way the government and policies of this government are not friendly to the progress of this country,” Dantani said.

He said the movement was also motivated by what its organisers regard as a gap between the promises made by President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 election campaign and the experience of citizens since he assumed office.

“We wanted to see the changes. We wanted to bring changes to this administration,” he said.

Dantani said the movement also emerged from a desire to challenge what he described as prolonged dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level.

“We can no longer be in a one-party system that has ruled since 2015. APC is ruling this country to date. So, we want to bring change,” he said.

He, however, described TMG as a platform established in the interest of ordinary Nigerians rather than a vehicle for securing political appointments or advancing the personal ambitions of its organisers.

“We believe that we organised this movement because of consideration of the poor masses of this country, not because of our personal gain, not because of our ambition to have any political office, not because of any promises, and not because of money,” Dantani said.

According to Dantani, the rapid growth of TMG, particularly on social media, is driven less by an elaborate organisational strategy than by what he described as widespread public dissatisfaction.

“There is no particular secret. The secret is sincerity and honesty. People are tired of this administration,” he said.

He argued that the movement would not attract support if Nigerians were satisfied with the direction of the country.

He said the movement’s objective is not merely to protest against the administration but to mobilise Nigerians towards political change through the 2027 election.

‘Movement yet to adopt unanimous candidate’

Dantani confirmed that the movement had written to some key opposition politicians as part of the effort, but said it had yet to receive a response.

“Our initial intention was to serve them with letters so that at least we need unity. Let them unite themselves and come up with one contestant who will contest on behalf of the opposition,” he said.

But the question of which candidate TMG should support has already generated an important distinction within its leadership.

Dantani’s co-convener, Abba Hikima, publicly expressed support for Atiku Abubakar after conducting an online poll in which Atiku emerged as the preferred candidate among respondents. Dantani stressed that Hikima’s declaration was his personal position and did not amount to an official adoption of Atiku by TMG yet.

He maintained that the movement’s position remained that opposition politicians should first unite and produce a common candidate. If they failed to do so, he said, Nigerians should be allowed to choose among the opposition contenders.

Dantani’s reluctance to endorse a particular opposition candidate, he explained, is also rooted in his background as a human rights activist.

“I respect the provision of the Constitution. I respect people’s opinion and I respect people’s views,” he said.

He suggested that TMG would not necessarily become an appendage of whichever opposition politician eventually emerges as a challenger to Tinubu.

The big question is who they will support

But while TMG seeks to rally Nigerians against President Bola Tinubu, political scientist Professor Murtala Muhammad said the movement faces a bigger question: who comes after him?

The professor of political science at North West University, Kano, said the emergence of TMG reflects how civil society activists and digital networks are turning public dissatisfaction into organised political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, he said the fragmented nature of the opposition could make TMG’s goal of producing a single challenger difficult to achieve.

“Formerly, it was ‘Tinubu Must Go’. Then who will come? Is it Obi, is it Atiku, is it another individual or another party?” Muhammad said.

He said the major opposition figures were likely to face difficulties agreeing on a common candidate because of competing political ambitions.

“All the candidates feel they can win the election without the other party,” he said.

Muhammad said TMG would therefore need to go beyond social media mobilisation and work towards building structures, engaging voters and forming broader coalitions if it hopes to influence the 2027 election.