NBA election: Tinubu Has No Preferred Candidate, says AGF

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, says President Bola Tinubu has no preferred choice for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was reacting to news making the rounds that President Tinubu had endorsed Afam Osigwe, SAN.

In a statement personally signed by the minister on Saturday, he said the president has not instructed anybody or a group to canvass votes for any particular candidate.

He described the news as a “lie from the pit of hell” being peddled by mischief makers.

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The statement said: “My attention has been drawn to the news making the rounds in the social media to the effect that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed Afam Osigwe SAN as his preferred candidate in the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election.

“To buttress these lies, I was made a point of reference for confirmation. I wish to state categorically, that at no time did Mr President give any such instruction. I completely dissociate myself from such statement because nothing of such happened.

“I am also in a position to confirm, and I do so, that the president neither had discussion with the author nor did he give any such divisive instruction. I also had no such discussion with anyone. The news is a lie from the pit of hell being peddled about by mischief makers seeking cheap popularity to ride on the acceptance of Mr President among lawyers.

“Mr President is a democrat who believes in playing by the rules. He has not and will not endorse anyone as a preferred candidate in the ongoing NBA election. As a democrat and president of the country, he will abide by the outcome of a free and fair election. He is also ready to work with any candidate that emerges.

“I seize this opportunity to call on those who are bent on causing disaffection among NBA members on the one hand and between our respected president and the respected NBA on the other hand, to desist from such an unprofitable venture. The president wishes the NBA a hitch free election and is looking forward to working with whoever emerges.”