Tinubu booed in Abuja on Friday, November 13, after some worshippers at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque expressed anger as his presidential convoy departed following Juma’at prayers. The incident attracted attention after videos showing people chanting against the President circulated across social media.
Some members of the crowd reportedly shouted “Ba ma yi, ba ma so,” loosely translated as “We do not support you.” Others also chanted “Tinubu Must Go” as the presidential motorcade prepared to leave the mosque in Area 1, Garki.
The incident has raised questions about public dissatisfaction, presidential security arrangements and the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Premium Times, eyewitnesses who attended the prayers linked the angry reaction partly to restrictions imposed by security operatives during the President’s visit.
One eyewitness said Tinubu arrived at the mosque at approximately 1:49 p.m. By that time, security personnel had already restricted access to the premises.
The source explained that security operatives prevented some worshippers from entering the mosque after the President arrived. Authorities also blocked roads leading to the facility and deployed personnel around its perimeter.
The restrictions reportedly continued after the prayers. Some worshippers could not leave the premises until the presidential convoy departed.
Another eyewitness described the security arrangements as excessive and said several people remained outside the mosque because of the restrictions.
These experiences reportedly contributed to the frustration that greeted the President’s departure.
Tinubu Booed in Abuja as Presidency Disputes Attack Reports
The incident generated further controversy after a video shared online appeared to show some youths throwing objects towards a motorcade believed to belong to the President.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dino Melaye shared the footage, which quickly attracted reactions from Nigerians on social media.
However, the Presidency challenged reports that angry youths attacked Tinubu’s convoy with stones.
O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, released another video showing Tinubu leaving the mosque.
In the footage, the President appeared to acknowledge people who cheered him and took photographs as he approached his official vehicle.
Ogra described the reports circulating online as misleading and argued that the footage presented a different account of the President’s departure.
The competing accounts created confusion over what happened outside the mosque. However, the reported chants against Tinubu received coverage from multiple news organisations.
A fact-check published on November 14 also distinguished between the documented hostile chanting and the disputed stoning allegation. It found no independently verified evidence that stones struck the presidential convoy.
Although the Presidency rejected the attack claims, the incident continued to generate public discussion.
Public Reaction Raises Questions Ahead of the 2027 Elections
The development comes as political activities gradually increase ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Political parties and opposition figures have started positioning themselves for the next electoral contest, while public discussions about the government’s performance continue.
For the Tinubu administration, the reported reception at the Abuja mosque presents another moment of public scrutiny.
Economic conditions remain an important subject in national discussions. Nigerians continue to express concerns about the cost of living, food prices, transportation expenses and the general difficulty of meeting household needs.
These issues have featured prominently in conversations about the Federal Government’s economic policies since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
However, the available eyewitness accounts specifically linked the mosque reaction partly to restrictions imposed during the President’s visit. They did not establish economic hardship as the direct cause of the protest.
Nevertheless, the incident has renewed attention on how Nigerians express dissatisfaction with political leaders and government policies.
Public reactions at official appearances can also provide insight into the concerns citizens want political leaders to address. However, the response of a crowd at one location cannot represent the views of the entire Nigerian population.
As the 2027 elections approach, the administration will continue to face questions about its policies, economic decisions, security efforts and delivery of public promises.
The Abuja mosque incident therefore adds another development to the growing political conversation surrounding Tinubu’s administration.
While the Presidency has disputed reports of an attack on the presidential convoy, the reported booing and chants have kept the incident in the spotlight, drawing attention to public reactions as Nigeria moves closer to another election cycle.
