Al-zubayr Abubakar, a lawyer based in Kaduna, has publicly criticized President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the executive has effectively seized control of the judiciary, security services, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Speaking during an interview on JKD TV, Abubakar argued that the current administration’s methods exceed the authoritarianism witnessed under past military regimes.
Abubakar stated that national security agencies now function as personal instruments for the President rather than serving the state. He provided the example that criticizing the President often leads to swift intervention by the DSS or police, who equate dissent against Tinubu with an attack on Nigeria itself. Furthermore, he claimed that the judiciary has lost its independence, leaving citizens skeptical of receiving impartial justice.
Regarding the electoral process, the lawyer accused the administration of paralyzing INEC, which he believes explains the ongoing struggles faced by opposition political parties. He specifically highlighted contradictions in the electoral body’s handling of the PDP, noting that INEC continued to collaborate with the Wike faction despite a contrary Supreme Court ruling. Consequently, he questioned whether Nigerians can trust the agency to manage future elections with fairness.
