The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly denied claims that its leadership held a secret meeting with Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to influence its leadership transition process. The association described the allegations as baseless, lacking evidence, and intended to cause disunity and tarnish its reputation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the NANS Senate President, Babatunde Akinteye, reiterated the association’s commitment to autonomy, transparency, and democratic principles. He dismissed the allegations, made by Comrade Jubril Batuta, as “spurious and unsubstantiated.”
Akinteye stated, “The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students categorically repudiates the spurious and unsubstantiated claims made by Comrade Jubril Batuta regarding an alleged clandestine meeting convened by Mr. Seyi Tinubu to manipulate the forthcoming NANS leadership transition. These allegations, bereft of empirical evidence, are a deliberate attempt to sow discord, malign personalities, and undermine the credibility of our esteemed association.”
Akinteye emphasized that NANS operates independently and follows a strict democratic framework guided by its constitution. “As a robust, autonomous, and democratic student body, NANS operates on the pillars of transparency, equity, and accountability. The NANS Constitution unequivocally provides a framework for the conduct of elections, which is dutifully implemented by the Independent NANS Convention Planning Committee (INANS-CPC),” he said.
The Senate President highlighted that the INANS-CPC is an impartial body tasked with ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. He stressed that no external influence, regardless of its power, could interfere or impose candidates on the association.
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Akinteye also condemned allegations of ethnic favoritism and the so-called “Yorubanisation” of the leadership process, calling such claims divisive and detrimental to the unity of Nigerian students. “It is a gross disservice to the millions of Nigerian students we represent to peddle such inflammatory rhetoric, especially when mechanisms exist within the association to address grievances and verify claims,” he said.
He urged aspirants and stakeholders to focus on constructive engagements, presenting their manifestos, and interacting with students rather than resorting to baseless propaganda.
Reaffirming the association’s commitment to a credible electoral process, Akinteye said, “The NANS Constitution clearly enshrines the principles of geopolitical zoning, fairness, and meritocracy. Any aspirant found to be ineligible or in contravention of the rules will be duly disqualified by the INANS-CPC, which remains resolute in its mandate to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.”
Akinteye also reminded members that the autonomy of NANS is non-negotiable and cannot be overridden by any individual or group. “No individual or group, regardless of their stature or affiliation, can override the collective will of Nigerian students,” he asserted.
The NANS Senate President urged Comrade Batuta and other aspirants to avoid spreading unverified claims that could harm the association’s cohesion. “To this end, we urge Comrade Batuta and other aspirants to refrain from propagating unverified claims that can jeopardize the cohesion and integrity of our association,” he said.
Akinteye concluded by encouraging aspirants to respect the principles of the NANS Constitution and focus on constructive contributions to the association. As the leadership transition process continues, the association remains steadfast in upholding transparency and protecting its independence.