Tinubu's Administration Accused of Undermining Scholars

Phrank Shaibu, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration of stripping scholars of their dignity. This statement followed reports that over 600 senior academics from public universities in Northern Nigeria endorsed Tinubu's second-term bid during a meeting convened by Tinubu’s Presidential Adviser on Politics, Ibrahim Masari, in Kaduna.

While the academics acknowledged the economic challenges inherited by Tinubu and noted some reforms that increased hardship, they cited progress in education, agriculture, and infrastructure. However, Chris Piwuna, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), disowned the endorsement, asserting that the union remains apolitical.

Shaibu cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against trusting academics who declare political allegiance with sensitive electoral responsibilities, emphasizing that those who endorse candidates should not serve as neutral electoral officials.