Amnesty kicks as ABU cancels public presentation of anti-Tinubu book

Amnesty International has condemned the cancellation of the planned public presentation of a book critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration by the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in Kaduna State.

The book, titled “Tinubu: From Renewed Hope to Despair: A Critical Examination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government,” was scheduled for presentation on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Arewa House, Kaduna, which is managed by ABU.

The event was being organised by the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria.

In a Sunday press statement, Amnesty International accused ABU authorities of “flagrantly succumbing to political pressure” by cancelling the booking of Arewa House for the event.

Amnesty described the cancellation as an attack on freedom of expression and part of an escalating pattern of political repression in the country.

The organisation also raised concern over claims by the organisers that attempts to secure an alternative venue in Kaduna failed, as hotels and event centres allegedly declined to host the programme.

According to CEDDERT, every hotel approached claimed they had been warned not to accommodate the event.

Its Executive Director, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, in a statement on Saturday, said the Centre received a letter dated October 10, 2026, notifying it of the cancellation.

Mohammed said the organisers were not entirely surprised, noting that many invitees had expressed fears that attempts would be made to stop the presentation due to what he described as increasing intolerance for dissenting opinions.

Amnesty said the book, which interrogates government policies and assesses their implications for the economy, security and national unity, is already in the public domain and constitutes legitimate intellectual engagement.

“The Nigerian authorities must end these undemocratic patterns of attack on freedom of expression,” Amnesty said, adding that “desperate attempts to prevent the presentation shows increasing pattern of intolerance of dissenting opinions.”

“This pattern of repression is creating a climate of fear and making expressing dissenting opinions almost impossible,” the organisation stated.

Amnesty called on the management of Ahmadu Bello University to immediately and unconditionally reverse the cancellation and uphold the rights to freedom of expression and association.

CEDDERT has said it would relocate the presentation to Abuja, while expressing concern that further attempts may be made to frustrate the event.