Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized the Tinubu administration after a video clip from Channels TV showed President Bola Tinubu’s campaign anthem, “On Your Mandate,” being played in place of Nigeria’s National Anthem during the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference.
Atiku described the incident as “an assault on our national dignity,” noting that it occurred immediately after Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, delivered her speech. He said his first reaction was to dismiss the clip as a deepfake, but upon confirmation of its authenticity, he waited for an explanation from the Presidency or the CJN’s office. “Silence. Total, deafening silence,” he remarked.
The opposition leader argued that the episode reflects a broader pattern under the Tinubu-led APC government, which he accused of systematically capturing state institutions, silencing dissent, and steering Nigeria toward a de facto one-party state.
Atiku highlighted the irony of the incident, pointing out that on the same day Tinubu lectured judges on integrity and the rule of law, his administration allowed partisan campaign music to replace the National Anthem in a solemn judicial gathering.
“Replacing the National Anthem with Tinubu’s ‘On Your Mandate’ in a hall full of judges is reckless, scandalous, disgraceful, and deeply irresponsible,” Atiku declared.
He warned that such acts undermine judicial independence and erode public confidence in the justice system. “How can judges dispense justice fearlessly when Tinubu’s operatives are busy eroding the boundaries between state, party, and personal ambition?” he asked.
Atiku emphasized that Nigerian judges swore an oath to defend the Constitution and the rule of law, not to align with partisan slogans. He urged all who believe in democracy to condemn the incident, describing it as a dangerous signal of attempts to drag the judiciary into partisan politics.
