Seyi Tinubu Allegedly Disrupts NANS Inauguration, Threatens Students’ President, Atiku Isah
Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah, the newly elected President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has raised the alarm over an alleged assassination threat, accusing Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, of leading a violent attempt to disrupt the association’s inauguration ceremony in Abuja.
In a distress call to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, Isah claimed that Seyi Tinubu arrived at The Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, with a group of thugs intent on sabotaging the event and physically threatening his life.
“At The Wells Carlton, Seyi Tinubu and his thugs are around to scatter our inauguration,” Isah said. “Seyi has just ordered for me to be assassinated after attempts to buy me off with money failed.”
According to the students’ leader, Seyi allegedly instructed the hotel management to lock down the premises, effectively trapping guests and preventing movement in and out of the facility.
“He has instructed the management to shut down everything. They have just informed me,” Isah added. “The inauguration was scheduled for 11am, the hall is already filled, and now he’s outside my hotel room with security operatives, trying to murder me. My life is under threat.”
A student leader who witnessed the incident but requested anonymity described the unfolding scenario as “deeply troubling and a clear assault on democratic student leadership.”
“This goes beyond Atiku Isah. This is about resisting elite interference and ensuring student unions remain autonomous,” the source said.
Isah was elected NANS President during the national convention held on February 27, 2025. The lead-up to the inauguration had already been marked by factional tension and allegations of external meddling, with fears that some powerful interests were seeking to influence the student body’s leadership structure.
As early as April 22, NANS had written to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting security coverage for the planned swearing-in. In the letter, signed by Isah, the association stressed the need for protection amid growing concerns over disruptions and threats.
“Following the emergence of Comr. Atiku Abubakar Isah as President, we wish to implore your office to avail us adequate security as we are set for official inauguration on 29/04/2025,” the letter read.
NANS, the umbrella body for students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, emphasized its commitment to a peaceful, democratic transition. It urged the police to ensure that the event remained free of rancor or intimidation.
“Please be assured, Sir, of our esteemed regards as we look forward to working together with your office to achieve a rancour-free inauguration,” the letter concluded.
The allegations against Seyi Tinubu—if substantiated—represent a significant flashpoint in student activism in Nigeria. Observers warn that such elite interference, if left unchecked, could erode democratic values within the country’s largest youth-led body.
As of the time of reporting, neither Seyi Tinubu nor any official spokesperson from the presidency has responded to the accusations.
The NANS leadership, under Comrade Isah, has pledged to uphold the interests of Nigerian students and ensure that their voices are not drowned out by political interference.
