Atiku berates Tinubu over partisan anthem at judges’ conference

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after a video surfaced showing the president’s political campaign anthem, “On Your Mandate,” being played during the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference.

The footage, aired by Channels Television, captured the closing moments of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s address, during which the partisan song was played in place of the National Anthem. The clip has triggered widespread reactions across political and judicial circles.

In a statement on Wednesday, Atiku described the development as “an assault on national dignity,” noting that he initially assumed the video was a deepfake. He said that after confirming its authenticity, he expected clarification from either the Presidency or the CJN’s office but received “silence — total, deafening silence.”

Atiku linked the incident to what he described as a pattern of institutional overreach by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, accusing it of attempting to “capture state institutions” and weaken opposition forces.

He also highlighted what he called a glaring contradiction in President Tinubu’s remarks at the same event, where the president urged judges to uphold integrity and protect public confidence in the judiciary. According to him, allowing a partisan anthem at a judicial gathering directly undermines those principles.

Atiku condemned the action as “reckless” and “disgraceful,” warning that it sends a disturbing message about the independence of the judiciary. He stressed that Nigerian judges swore an oath to defend the Constitution and the rule of law, “not to stand on the mandate of any individual,” and called for broad condemnation of the incident.