ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to “rein in” members of his family, following serious allegations made by a factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, May 2, 2025, by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku warned that Nigeria must not be treated as “a private estate,” describing the developments surrounding the NANS leadership as a dangerous affront to democratic values and civil liberties.
The intervention came two days after Comrade Isah publicly alleged that Seyi Tinubu, son of President Tinubu, offered him a N100 million bribe to endorse the president’s leadership.
Isah claimed the offer was made during a meeting in Lagos, and that his refusal was followed by his alleged abduction and assault on April 15 by individuals he linked to the president’s inner circle.
“I could not endorse a president who had failed to deliver on his campaign promises,” Isah told reporters, adding that after rejecting the bribe, “I was assaulted, stripped, and abducted.”
Seyi Tinubu has since denied the claims, writing in a social media post, “I have never held a meeting to discuss any subject matter with Comrade Isah in Lagos or anywhere else in the world. I have never knowingly met him before.”
He added, “Wow…how can someone lie with so much confidence?…an attempt to defame any character. May God be with you, Comrade Atiku Isah.”
Responding to the controversy, Atiku Abubakar expressed grave concern, calling the allegations “deeply alarming” and suggesting they point to “an unacceptable compromise of state institutions.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must urgently rein in his family members, particularly his son, Seyi Tinubu, who appears determined to purchase political loyalty for his father by any means necessary, including coercion, violence, and intimidation,” Atiku said.
He continued: “Had this incident ended fatally, it would have been recorded among the growing list of atrocities committed by criminal elements in the country. That it is allegedly tied to the President’s own son makes it even more horrifying.”
The former vice president also rejected insinuations that he shared a political alliance with the NANS leader, clarifying that any past engagement was solely focused on student welfare and education reforms.
“Attempts to drag former Vice President Atiku Abubakar into this scandal by alleging a political alliance with Comrade Isah are baseless, malicious, and desperate,” the statement read.
“Comrade Isah’s advocacy and public stance must be evaluated based on fact, not fiction.”
Calling for an independent investigation into the allegations, Atiku urged transparency and accountability, warning that “nothing must happen to this young man.”
“Nigerians deserve truth, accountability, and a leadership that respects the rule of law — not a regime that weaponises power to silence dissent,” he said.
As of the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued by the Presidency, the Ministry of Youth Development, or security agencies regarding the allegations.
