Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to influence the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, describing the situation as a warning sign ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a Daily Post report published on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Atiku, in a statement issued through his media office, alleged that the Federal Government was backing a preferred candidate and that the NBA election was being used to test strategies that could later be deployed during the 2027 polls.
He claimed that legal challenges, pressure on key stakeholders, and the reported disqualification of some aspirants had raised concerns about the independence of the NBA’s electoral process and the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
Atiku urged that the NBA Electoral Committee be allowed to conduct the election without external interference and in accordance with its constitutional procedures.
“What is playing out in the NBA election issues is clearly a confirmation that what Tinubu cannot compromise doesn’t exist,” he said.
The presidency has not responded to the allegations contained in Atiku’s statement.
