Odinkalu Reacts to Viral Video of Judges Singing Tinubu “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand” at National Conference
Reacting via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Prof. Odinkalu said he initially dismissed reports of the incident, especially given that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, had just delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of judicial independence.
Advertisements
Human rights advocate and legal scholar, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has expressed strong criticism after a viral video appeared to show some participants singing the pro-Tinubu chant “on your mandate we shall stand” during the All Nigeria Judges’ Conference.
The video, which circulated on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, was first published on the official YouTube channel of Channels Television. It reportedly captured the moment shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was introduced at the event, prompting a group of attendees to break into the chant commonly associated with his political supporters.
Reacting via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Prof. Odinkalu said he initially dismissed reports of the incident, especially given that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, had just delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of judicial independence.
Advertisements
According to Odinkalu, the incident contradicted the very principles the CJN had highlighted.
Quoting his post, he wrote:
“I was initially inclined not to believe the rumour. The CJN spent her speech preaching about judicial independence. After she was done, the judges did ‘on your mandate we shall stand.’”
The video has sparked widespread debate online, with many Nigerians questioning the propriety of such chants at a gathering meant to underscore neutrality and independence within the judiciary.
Advertisements
Neither the CJN nor the organizers of the conference have issued an official response as of the time of filing this report.
