Tinubu Begins Search for New Defence Minister After Badaru’s Sudden Resignation

The Presidency has entered a decisive week as President Bola Tinubu prepares to appoint a new Minister of Defence following the abrupt exit of Badaru Abubakar. The former minister stepped down citing health concerns, bringing his tenure to an immediate end. His resignation was formally communicated in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to the President.

The announcement was confirmed on Monday evening in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The statement noted that Tinubu has accepted Abubakar’s decision and expressed gratitude for his service. It added that the President is expected to notify the Senate of a successor within the week, signalling that the search for new leadership at the Defence Ministry has already begun.

Abubakar, aged sixty-three, previously served two terms as governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before joining the federal cabinet on August 21, 2023. His exit arrives at a critical juncture for the administration as it struggles to contain widespread insecurity, which has prompted the recent declaration of a nationwide security emergency.

The emergency measures rolled out by Tinubu include the recruitment of twenty thousand police officers, the deployment of forest guards and strengthened security presence around schools, churches and mosques in high-risk communities. These steps came amid rising criticism from analysts who had questioned Abubakar’s suitability for the role, with some calling for his removal even before his resignation.

Just hours before the announcement, President Tinubu held a private meeting with former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) at the State House in Abuja. Musa, who retired on October 24, 2025, arrived at about 7:03 p.m. dressed in dark-green northern-style attire and was escorted into the President’s office wing by a senior security official. It was his first public engagement with the President since leaving office.

Although details of the discussion were not immediately disclosed, the timing of the meeting has intensified speculation about potential candidates for the Defence Ministry. With the nation on edge and security reforms underway, attention now turns to who will take charge of one of the most sensitive portfolios in government.