The 2027 African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu, of meddling with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) forthcoming election for new executives.
Atiku alleged that Tinubu is plotting to impose a new NBA President to succeed the outgoing president, Afam Osigwe.
The former Vice President made the allegation in a statement issued by his media office and shared on X on Thursday by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe.
Atiku, in the statement, alleged that Tinubu is replicating same strategy of weakening opposition parties by instigating internal crises ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“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 focusing on rigging the elections.
“Sadly, the wild seeds of coronation that is being sowed all over the place, has found accommodation in the NBA Election.
“There have been media reports of how this government, and its agents have resorted to the use of the courts to railroad members of the Bar into settling for its preferred candidate.
“This, to say the least, is a dangerous precedent that is capable of widening our fault lines, which this administration’s politics has turned into craters.” He stated.
Atiku noted that the conduct of the NBA Election remains the sole responsibility of the association’s Electoral Committee appointed by the NBA National Executive Council.
He however alleged plot to disqualify two candidates for the NBA presidency to pave way for the emergence of Tinubu’s preferred candidate who was not disclosed.
“We wish to state that NBA Election remains the sole responsibility of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) appointed by the NBA NEC.
“This has been the practice under the NBA Constitution, 2015 (as amended).
“By seeking to enthrone its preferred candidate by arm twisting the NBA to disqualify two of the prospective candidates, the Tinubu presidency was simply adopting its play book to have the candidates of the opposition parties disqualified through the instrumentality of the courts and the electoral umpire.” Atiku said.
The ex-Vice President warned the Tinubu-led administration against meddling with the affairs of the NBA in what he described as disgraceful and negation of democracy.
He further disclosed alleged arrest of some service providers in a bid to frustrate the election.
This, according to Atiku, are tilted towards plot to use the NBA and other government agencies to rig the 2027 Election.
“We wish to sound a note of warning to officials of the Tinubu government who are still desperate in achieving a preconceived result to give the NBA a break to organise a democratic election that will pave the way for a smooth transition of power.
“That is something that Tinubu may eventually learn from. It is disgraceful and a negation of democracy that in spite of the failed efforts to shift the polls, even with the open support of the Attorney General of the Federation, officials of government are now deploying security agents to arrest service providers and frustrate the election.
“This desperation shows how the Tinubu-led APC government plans to use government agencies to rig the 2027 general elections.” He said.