Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Meddling in NBA Election
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of interfering with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, describing it as a test run for rigging the 2027 general elections.
Claims of State‑Sponsored Coronation Tactics
In a statement released by his campaign, Atiku said:
“We are concerned that President Bola Tinubu has brought his state‑sponsored toxic politics of coronation to bear on the election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Curiously, this same strategy of imposition without allowing for free, fair and credible elections is what the Tinubu‑led APC administration is working assiduously towards in the 2027 General Elections. To achieve this, the President is weakening opposition parties by instigating crises in the parties, destroying our democratic institutions and focused on rigging the elections.”
Atiku added that media reports indicate government agents are using the courts to pressure Bar members into accepting a preferred candidate, a move he called a dangerous precedent that could deepen the nation’s fault lines.
NBA Election Remains an Internal Matter
He reminded the public that the NBA election is the sole responsibility of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), appointed by the NBA National Executive Committee, as stipulated in the NBA Constitution of 2015 (as amended).
According to Atiku, the Tinubu administration is attempting to enthrone its favoured candidate by arm‑twisting the NBA to disqualify two prospective contenders — mirroring the playbook it intends to use against opposition parties in the 2027 polls.
Warning Over Security Deployments
The former Vice President warned officials of the Tinubu government who are still desperate to achieve a preconceived result, noting that security agents are now being deployed to arrest service providers and frustrate the electoral process.
“This desperation shows how the Tinubu‑led APC government plans to use government agencies to rig the 2027 general elections,” Atiku concluded.
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