Atiku Abubakar warns of a judicial independence threat after the ‘On Your Mandate’ anthem was played at Nigeria Judges Conference, calling for accountability.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denounced what he calls a judicial independence threat during the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference.
The controversy arose after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign anthem, “On Your Mandate,” was played in place of the National Anthem, a move Atiku described as “a blatant violation of Nigeria’s democratic principles and a dangerous intrusion of partisan politics into the judiciary.”
Atiku said he first saw the video through Channels Television, which showed the anthem being played immediately after the address of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Initially, Atiku assumed the footage might have been manipulated. However, upon confirming its authenticity, he expected swift clarification from either the Presidency or the Office of the CJN. “Instead,” he lamented, “there has been total, deafening silence.”
The former vice president emphasized that this was not a mere oversight. He described the incident as part of a broader pattern under the Tinubu-led APC administration, aimed at undermining state institutions, suppressing opposition, and moving Nigeria toward a de facto one-party system.
Atiku highlighted the irony that the incident took place on the same day President Tinubu lectured the judiciary on integrity, discipline, and public confidence in the justice system.
“On Monday, I received a video from Channels TV’s coverage of the Nigeria Judges Conference,” Atiku said.
“What I witnessed was nothing short of a judicial independence threat.
‘On Your Mandate,’ President Tinubu’s personal political song, was played in place of our National Anthem after the Chief Justice’s speech.
At first, I thought it was a deepfake. But once it was confirmed genuine, I expected an immediate explanation. Silence prevailed.”
Atiku warned that the incident constituted a direct attack on the judiciary’s impartiality. Playing partisan music before the nation’s top judges, he said, is a deliberate attempt to influence judicial decisions and drag the judiciary into political alignment with the ruling party.
“Judges are not instruments of any individual or political party; they are custodians of the Constitution,” Atiku stressed.
He described the episode as reckless, scandalous, and deeply disrespectful to national symbols.
“This judicial independence threat is the clearest signal yet that the executive is blurring the lines between state, party, and personal ambition,” Atiku said.
“Such actions risk eroding public trust and undermining Nigeria’s democracy.”
Legal experts have expressed alarm at the incident, warning that it may set a dangerous precedent.
Professor Ngozi Okeke, a constitutional law specialist, said: “This is not a simple protocol lapse. The incident represents a systemic intrusion of partisan politics into the judiciary, compromising its independence and impartiality.”
Atiku further questioned how judicial confidence could be maintained when the executive openly allows partisan propaganda in official judicial gatherings.
“How can judges dispense justice fearlessly when symbols of political allegiance are being inserted into their professional environment?” he asked.
The former vice president also urged civil society, professional associations, and defenders of democracy to condemn the judicial independence threat.
He emphasized that silence would embolden attempts to weaken Nigeria’s institutions and blur the separation of powers critical for democracy.
Atiku reminded Nigerians that judges swear an oath to defend the Constitution and uphold the rule of law, not to act on the political mandate of any individual.
“The affront must be condemned by all who value democracy, integrity, and the independence of state institutions,” he said.
“Without such condemnation, public confidence in the judiciary could be seriously undermined.”
Observers have noted that the incident could reignite debates over political influence within state institutions.
A free and independent judiciary is essential for sustaining democracy, checking executive overreach, and protecting citizens’ rights.
By allowing a campaign anthem to replace the National Anthem at such a high-profile gathering, critics argue, the Tinubu administration has crossed a critical ethical boundary.
Atiku concluded by asserting that defending judicial independence is not just a political concern—it is fundamental to preserving Nigeria’s democratic system.
The judicial independence threat witnessed at the Nigeria Judges Conference is a stark reminder that partisan interference in state institutions must be actively resisted.
In the face of this incident, Atiku called on the Presidency and the CJN’s office to provide immediate clarification, take corrective measures, and ensure the integrity of future judicial events is protected.
“Our judges’ independence is the backbone of Nigeria’s democracy. Any attempt to compromise it undermines justice, public trust, and the rule of law,” Atiku said.
For Atiku and democracy advocates, safeguarding judicial independence is crucial for a society where laws are applied fairly and without fear.
The judicial independence threat at the Nigeria Judges Conference serves as a warning that the line between political ambition and state responsibility must never be crossed.
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