Tinubu booed at Abuja mosque after Friday prayers

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faced protests at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Abuja following his Friday prayers. Video footage showed that youths were chanting slogans against the president as his motorcade left the mosque. A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the opposition may have been sparked by the restrictions imposed on worshippers due to the president's visit.

Upon arrival at the mosque, security personnel prevented people from entering the premises, blocked the roads leading to it, and even mounted the mosque's perimeter fences. These measures continued after the prayers, with worshippers being barred from leaving until the president had departed. Some individuals expressed their discontent by chanting "Ba mayi, ba ma so," which translates to "We are not supporting you" in Hausa, and "Tinubu Must Go," a slogan used in opposition to his re-election bid.

Another witness attributed the booing partly to the excessive security arrangements, claiming that people were stopped from entering the mosque once the president had entered and were prevented from leaving until Tinubu left. The incident took place as the president grapples with growing political challenges ahead of the next presidential election, which is scheduled for January.

The president is anticipated to face significant opposition, particularly from Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).