The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has dismissed allegations of a covert meeting between its leadership and Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, concerning its leadership transition process. The association described the claims as baseless and intended to create unnecessary division within its ranks while tarnishing its reputation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NANS Senate President Babatunde Akinteye reaffirmed the independence and democratic nature of the association. He noted that the leadership transition process of NANS is governed by transparency, fairness, and accountability, all of which are enshrined in its constitution.
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.”
He emphasized that the association’s elections are conducted strictly under the guidelines of the Independent NANS Convention Planning Committee (INANS-CPC). This independent body is tasked with ensuring a free and fair electoral process while safeguarding the credibility of NANS.
Addressing claims of ethnic favoritism and what some have referred to as the “Yorubanisation” of the leadership process, Akinteye rejected such accusations, describing them as divisive and contrary to the values of unity and inclusiveness upheld by NANS. He noted that propagating such rhetoric only serves to harm the student body rather than strengthen it.
Akinteye urged all aspirants and stakeholders to focus on presenting their manifestos to Nigerian students rather than indulging in baseless propaganda. He reiterated that any aspirant found violating the rules or failing to meet the eligibility criteria would be disqualified by INANS-CPC.
In his closing remarks, Akinteye stressed the non-negotiable autonomy of NANS, warning against external interference in its operations. He appealed to aspirants and stakeholders to work toward maintaining the cohesion and integrity of the association for the benefit of all Nigerian students.
