The Atiku Media Office has accused President Bola Tinubu of interfering in the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) elections, alleging that the administration is using the process as a “test run” for manipulating the 2027 general elections.

In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, the media office claimed that the Tinubu administration had extended what it described as “state-sponsored toxic politics of coronation” to the NBA electoral process.

“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),” the statement read.

It alleged that the same strategy of imposing preferred candidates and undermining democratic processes was being deployed ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“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.”

The Atiku Media Office further claimed that the alleged pattern of political interference had now extended to the legal profession.

“Sadly, the wild seeds of coronation that is being sowed all over the place, has found accommodation in the NBA Election.”

The statement cited media reports alleging that the government and its agents had resorted to the courts in a bid to influence the outcome of 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.”

According to the statement, “What is playing out in the NBA is clearly a confirmation that what Tinubu cannot compromise does not exist.”

The Atiku Media Office stressed that conducting the NBA election remained the exclusive responsibility of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), constituted by the NBA National Executive Committee in line with the association’s constitution.

“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).”

It further alleged that the presidency was attempting to influence the outcome of the election by seeking the disqualification of aspirants.

“By seeking to enthrone its preferred candidate by armtwisting 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.”

The statement also warned government officials against interfering in the NBA’s electoral process.

“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.”

The Atiku Media Office further alleged that security agencies were being deployed to frustrate the conduct of the election.

“It is disgraceful and a negation of democracy that inspite 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.”

The statement concluded by alleging that the developments reflected how the administration intended to conduct the 2027 elections.

“This desperation shows how the Tinubu-led APC government plans to use government agencies to rig the 2027 general elections.”

The Presidency, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Nigerian Bar Association had not responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report. (AriseNews TV)

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