Tinubu Replaces Service Chiefs Following Rumours Of Coup, Reigniting Nepotism Claims

President Bola Tinubu has appointed General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), replacing General Christopher Musa.

The President also appointed Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.

The appointments were announced in a statement signed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, who described the move as part of efforts “to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.”

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement read in part.

“He charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to enhance further the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

The announcement comes amid rumours of a coup attempt last week, which had reportedly stirred unease within the Tinubu regime and the security establishment.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), however, denied the claims, stating that the 16 officers rumoured to have attempted the coup were under investigation over “professional misconduct.” The DHQ said its findings would be made public after the panel’s investigations.

“The DHQ wishes to reassure Nigerians that the ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism are maintained within the ranks,” the statement read in part. “An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings will be made public.”

The new CDS, who until now served as Chief of Army Staff following the death of General Taoreed Lagbaja last year, hails from the same South-West region as President Tinubu. This detail has reignited criticism of the regime’s pattern of ethnically skewed appointments, as key positions in the Tinubu regime are occupied by his allies and people from his Yoruba ethnic group.

General Oluyede’s elevation reflects more than a mere leadership reshuffle; it is widely seen as part of a deliberate effort to consolidate loyalty within the military hierarchy. Particularly in a period marked by whispers of an alleged coup attempt, the President appears intent on surrounding himself with figures whose regional and political alignment offer a firmer guarantee of personal allegiance than institutional independence.

The latest shake-up echoes not only the regime’s continued reliance on political loyalty rather than institutional balance, but also its growing disregard for the rule of law.

The outgoing chiefs, General Musa, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, were appointed in June 2023 and oversaw several major operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed bandit groups across the North-East and North-West.

All appointments take immediate effect.

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