Atiku Abubakar Condemns ‘On Your Mandate’ Controversy at Judges Conference, Calls Incident “Reckless and Disgraceful”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned what he described as a “reckless and disgraceful” episode at the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference, where President Bola Tinubu’s campaign anthem, “On Your Mandate,” was allegedly played in place of Nigeria’s National Anthem.
In a strongly worded statement posted on his official Facebook page, Atiku Abubakar expressed shock over the video clip broadcast by Channels Television, calling the incident an “assault on national dignity.” According to him, he initially suspected the footage might be a deepfake, but verification confirmed the clip was authentic.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Atiku said both the Presidency and the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, had not offered any explanation, leading to what he described as a “deafening silence.”
Atiku Abubakar further claimed that the Tinubu-led APC administration has been systematically attempting to capture state institutions, suppress opposition, and nudge the country toward a “de facto one-party state.”
He noted that the incident was especially disturbing because it occurred on the same day the President addressed Nigerian judges about integrity, rule of law, and protecting public trust in the judiciary.
“Ironically, while preaching morality, his administration allowed (or engineered) the playing of his own partisan campaign music before the entire Nigerian judiciary,” Atiku wrote.
He described the act as a “desecration of protocol, ethics, and national pride.”
The former vice president warned that replacing the National Anthem with a partisan anthem could be interpreted as an attempt to politically influence the judiciary, saying such moves undermine judicial independence and public confidence.
“Let the records be clear: Nigerian judges swore an oath to defend the Constitution, justice, and the rule of law — not to stand ‘on the mandate’ of Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
Atiku urged Nigerians, civil society, and democratic institutions to condemn the incident, insisting that silence would only embolden further erosion of constitutional values.
Atiku Abubakar concluded by insisting that the matter requires immediate clarification, accountability, and public reassurance that the judiciary remains independent and non-partisan, especially at a time when national confidence in governance is fragile.
The Presidency and the CJN’s office have yet to issue any official statement regarding the controversy.
