Former Sokoto State governor and serving senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has publicly stated his support for potential involvement by the international community in Nigeria's upcoming 2027 general elections. The prominent opposition figure made these remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Learning from the 2015 Election Precedent
Tambuwal, who currently represents Sokoto South Senatorial District under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), anchored his position on recent political history. He pointed to the 2015 general election as a clear example where international engagement significantly influenced the outcome. He noted that this involvement contributed to the victory of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over the then-incumbent administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
"From even our recent history, the intervention of the international community shaped the election of 2015, which the APC benefited from. So, I expect similar intervention from the international community," Tambuwal stated. He was quick to clarify that such foreign involvement should be collective action by democratic nations aimed at ensuring a free and fair process, not direct interference by any single country like the United States.
A Call for Transparent Security Frameworks
Beyond electoral matters, Senator Tambuwal addressed issues of national security and foreign cooperation. He commented on reported United States military actions in Nigeria in December, expressing a desire that such incidents are not repeated. Instead, he advocated for a more structured and transparent approach.
The senator called for a clearer and well-defined legislative framework to guide security collaborations between Nigeria and its international partners. He expressed concern over the lack of parliamentary oversight, revealing that the Senate was not briefed on the reported U.S. intervention. "I’m a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These issues were not tabled before us. If you ask us today, we don’t know how it came about," he lamented.
Nigeria's Democratic Path Forward
Tambuwal's comments align with his recent warnings about the state of the nation's democracy. He has previously cautioned that Nigeria has strayed from the democratic ideals of its founders and is in need of a national rescue. His advocacy for international election oversight and transparent security pacts forms part of his vision for correcting the country's course.
While welcoming constructive international roles, Tambuwal emphasized that foreign intervention is not the only mechanism for achieving credible elections, but remains one viable tool among others. He concluded that all cooperation, whether for elections or security, must be based on mutual understanding and proper legislative scrutiny to serve Nigeria's best interests.
