A fresh political controversy has erupted following claims by Senator Abdulaziz Yari, representing Zamfara West, that Nigeria’s presidency under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is no longer being run from the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and a key figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reportedly made the remarks while speaking at a public forum in Abuja identified as the One Nigeria Project Conference. According to reports, he alleged that real power and decision-making authority now reside outside Aso Rock.
“The presidency is being operated from outside the Villa,” Yari was quoted as saying, adding that President Tinubu is effectively “caged” within the Presidential Villa while a small group of powerful individuals run the affairs of government.
The claims were first reported by DailyPost Nigeria and later by Daily Report Nigeria, making them the only known media outlets to have published detailed accounts of Yari’s remarks so far. No video recording or full transcript of the speech has been made publicly available as of the time of this report.
Despite the gravity of the allegation, there has been no official reaction from the Presidency. Neither the President’s media team nor senior government officials have issued a statement confirming or debunking Yari’s comments.
The remarks have drawn attention because of Yari’s political standing. He is not only a serving senator but has also had direct access to the Presidency, having held a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at Aso Rock in 2023. This has fueled debate over whether his claims are grounded in insider knowledge or reflect emerging political tensions within the ruling elite.
Analysts say that if validated, the allegation would raise serious constitutional and governance concerns, particularly about who truly exercises executive power in Nigeria. Others caution that the statement may be politically motivated or exaggerated, given ongoing intra-party dynamics ahead of future elections.
For now, Yari’s assertion that President Tinubu is “caged” and that Nigeria’s presidency is run from outside Aso Rock remains unverified, but it has already sparked intense public discussion and renewed calls for clarity and transparency at the highest levels of government.