“Those Dragging Trump Into Our Elections Are Wasting Their Time” - Shehu Sani

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Senator Shehu Sani has played down expectations that US President Donald Trump would intervene in Nigeria’s electoral matters, saying those trying to bring him into the country’s political affairs are unlikely to get the response they expect.

Sani’s comment came after singer Davido previously sent a message to Trump over the Osun State election. While Davido’s appeal was directed at the American president, Sani offered a different view of what Trump’s priorities are and how much attention he is likely to give electoral disputes in African countries.

According to the former senator, Trump’s approach to African elections is different from that of former US presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who were often seen as more vocal on issues surrounding democracy and elections across the continent.

Sani pointed to elections in Tanzania, Uganda and Cameroon as examples of why he believes Trump is unlikely to make Nigeria’s election matters a major concern.

He wrote:

“Those who are trying to drag Mr Trump into our elections are just wasting their time.Trump is not Obama or Biden.He has least interest in the credibility or otherwise of elections in Africa.The elections in Tanzania,Uganda and Cameroon are case studies. Mr Trump’s hands is full with Strait of Hormuz,Gaza and Ukraine;And most importantly,his party is battling to survive the upcoming Senate and House of Representatives elections.”

The senator’s position is that there are simply too many issues competing for Trump’s attention at the moment. He mentioned the Strait of Hormuz, Gaza and Ukraine as major international matters that are already demanding the US president’s attention.

Beyond foreign policy, Sani also highlighted the political pressure within the United States itself. With Senate and House of Representatives elections approaching, he said Trump and his Republican Party have domestic political battles to focus on.

That, in Sani’s view, makes it difficult to see why the American president would become deeply involved in Nigeria’s electoral disputes.

Davido’s earlier message to Trump had drawn attention to the situation surrounding the Osun State election, with the Nigerian music star appealing directly to the US president. Sani, however, appears to be urging Nigerians not to expect Washington to take up the matter in the way some may be hoping.

His argument also reflects a broader difference in expectations about how American administrations engage with elections in Africa. While previous administrations placed considerable emphasis on democratic standards and electoral credibility, Sani believes Trump’s priorities are shaped more strongly by immediate American interests and major geopolitical issues.

For him, looking to Trump as a possible intervention point in Nigeria’s election matters may therefore lead to disappointment.

Rather than expecting the US president to become involved, Sani’s comments suggest that attention should remain on Nigeria’s own political and electoral institutions.

The senator’s remarks have also put the focus back on the question of how much influence foreign governments should have over Nigeria’s elections, particularly when political actors or public figures appeal directly to international leaders.

Sani’s message is straightforward: Trump has other priorities, and Nigerians should not assume that he will make the country’s electoral disputes a central concern of his administration.

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