“It’s an assault on Nigeria’s national dignity” ATIKU condemns playing of President TINUBU's supporter's song ''On your mandate we shall stand" at Judges’ conference

Thursday, November 20, 2025 - Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the playing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s supporter's anthem, “On Your Mandate,” during the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference, describing it as “an assault on Nigeria’s national dignity and a dangerous intrusion of partisan politics into the judiciary.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, November 19, said he was alarmed after watching a Channels Television video showing the partisan anthem being played in place of the National Anthem at the conclusion of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s speech. He said his first reaction was disbelief, assuming the footage might be manipulated, but upon confirmation that it reflected what actually transpired, he expected a swift explanation from the Presidency or the Office of the CJN. “Instead,” he lamented, “there has been total and deafening silence.”

Atiku said the incident was not an isolated mistake but “part of a consistent pattern under the Tinubu-led APC government to capture state institutions, suppress opposition, and steer Nigeria toward a de facto one-party state.” He criticised the irony of the situation, noting that the President had, on the same day, lectured Nigerian judges on integrity, discipline, and the need to protect public confidence in the justice system.

He warned that the partisan music played before the nation’s top judicial officers was a clear attempt to “drag the judiciary into the political gutters of the APC,” and to intimidate or influence judicial independence.

‘’On Monday, I was sent a video clip from Channels TV’s coverage of the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference. What I saw was nothing short of an assault on our national dignity: “On Your Mandate,” President Tinubu’s personal political anthem, was brazenly played in place of the National Anthem at the end of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s speech.

My first instinct was to dismiss it as a deepfake. But once it was confirmed to be authentic—an actual reflection of what transpired on the very day President Tinubu lectured the judiciary on integrity and the rule of law, I waited for an explanation from the Presidency or the office of the CJN. Silence. Total, deafening silence.

This incident is not isolated. The Tinubu-led APC government has consistently pursued a systematic capture of state institutions, crushing opposition voices, and steering Nigeria toward a de facto one-party state.

Ironically, on the same day, President Tinubu stood before Nigerian judges and sermonized about safeguarding integrity and upholding the sanctity of their profession. He stressed that “confidence is the lifeblood of justice,” and that public perception must be fiercely protected to sustain our democracy.

Yet, while preaching morality, his administration allowed (or engineered) the playing of his own partisan campaign music before the entire Nigerian judiciary—a shocking desecration of protocol, ethics, and national pride.

Let it be said clearly and without hesitation: Replacing the National Anthem with Tinubu’s “On Your Mandate” in a hall full of judges is reckless, scandalous, disgraceful, and deeply irresponsible.

It is the most blatant signal yet that this government is attempting to drag the judiciary into the partisan gutters of the APC, if not coerce a wholesale “defection” of Nigerian judges into political alignment.

How can confidence be built when the executive arm openly inserts partisan propaganda into a solemn judicial gathering? How can judges dispense justice fearlessly when Tinubu’s operatives are busy eroding the boundaries between state, party, and personal ambition?

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 or any other individual. This affront must be condemned by all who still believe in constitutional democracy.''