Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that President Bola Tinubu is treating the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election as a practice run for manipulating the 2027 general elections. In a statement released through his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku asserted that the current administration is applying the same methods it plans to use against political rivals.
Atiku emphasized that the ongoing disputes within the NBA represent a larger trend of government interference in democratic institutions. He accused the administration of utilizing judicial pressure and security agencies to force the association toward a preferred candidate. According to the former vice president, this strategy mirrors the tactics he fears will be used to disqualify opposition candidates in the future.
The statement highlighted concerns regarding reports that state officials have attempted to influence the legal community by coercing members and pressuring service providers involved in the election process. Atiku warned that such actions establish a harmful precedent that threatens the autonomy of the Bar. He concluded by urging the government to refrain from further involvement and allow the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to conduct the election independently in accordance with its established constitution.
