The Atiku Media Office has accused President Bola Tinubu of exporting what it describes as his administration’s state-sponsored politics of coronation into the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, warning that the alleged interference mirrors a broader strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement made available to The News Chronicle on Thursday, the opposition claimed the same pattern of political imposition, rather than free, fair and credible elections, is being replicated within the NBA. It alleged that the Tinubu administration is systematically weakening opposition parties by fueling internal crises, undermining democratic institutions and laying the groundwork to manipulate future elections.
According to the statement, the “politics of coronation” has now reached one of Nigeria’s most influential professional bodies.
The Atiku Media Office cited media reports alleging that government officials and their allies have turned to the courts in a bid to pressure members of the legal profession into accepting the administration’s preferred candidate for the NBA presidency. It described the alleged actions as a dangerous precedent capable of further eroding confidence in democratic institutions.
“What is playing out in the NBA is clearly a confirmation that what Tinubu cannot compromise does not exist,” the statement said.
The opposition stressed that conducting the NBA election remains the exclusive responsibility of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), constituted by the NBA National Executive Council under the provisions of the NBA Constitution, 2015 (as amended).
It further alleged that attempts to force the disqualification of two aspirants reflected the same strategy the administration intends to deploy against opposition candidates in the 2027 elections through the courts and electoral institutions.
The Atiku Media Office warned government officials against interfering in the NBA electoral process, urging them to allow the association to conduct a transparent, credible and democratic election that would guarantee a smooth leadership transition.
The statement also condemned what it described as failed attempts to postpone the NBA election, alleging that the Attorney General of the Federation openly supported the move. It further claimed that security agencies were being deployed to arrest service providers and frustrate the conduct of the election.
According to the opposition, the alleged actions are an indication of how the Tinubu administration intends to deploy state institutions in the run-up to the 2027 general elections.
