As Nigeria marked the 32nd anniversary of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely considered the freest and fairest in the country’s history, the mood across the nation was muted.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed a joint sitting of the National Assembly, touting democratic progress.

Yet his remarks were quickly met with sharp rebuke from opposition figures, civil society groups, and citizens disillusioned with the state of the nation.

The day, declared a public holiday, saw minimal public engagement.

Plans for nationwide protests organized by the Take It Back movement fizzled out, and in many states, citizens ignored the occasion, going about their regular activities.

Still, Tinubu attempted to underscore democracy’s growth in Nigeria.

“Year by year, election after election, every time we debate instead of battle, discuss instead of fight, and argue instead of destroying, we preserve the institutions of democracy. More importantly, we weave the culture of democracy into the very fabric of our nation,” he said.

Dismissing claims that his administration is steering Nigeria toward a one-party system, the President assured:

“To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error.

“At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present, and at no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria. I have never attempted to alter any political party registration with INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission).”

He added: “We must welcome and accept the diversity and number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity of our population.”

“Our efforts must never be to eliminate political competition, but to make that competition salutary to the national well-being by working across the political aisle whenever possible.”

However, critics swiftly challenged the administration’s democratic credentials.

Adebayo Adewole, the Social Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, argued that celebrating Democracy Day under current conditions was meaningless.

“As far as it is not yet bye-bye to poverty and hunger, celebrating June 12 as Democracy Day amounts to an empty show,” he said.

“What is happening is not governance, but conquest.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was more scathing.

He recalled the hope of June 12, 1993, and lamented its steady erosion.

“Thirty-two years ago, Nigeria stood on the cusp of greatness. The winds of democratic change were sweeping through Africa, and all eyes turned to our nation with hope… It was a moment of great promise and great sacrifice.”

Reflecting on his own role, he added: “I, too, made my fair share of sacrifices, most notably setting aside my own presidential ambition in deference to the late Chief MKO Abiola, a gesture made in faith and fidelity to a higher national cause.”

Atiku condemned what he described as creeping authoritarianism: “Today, Nigeria teeters on the edge of a dangerous precipice, a creeping one-party dictatorship is replacing the democratic order we bled for… What we are witnessing is not governance, it is conquest.”

He warned: “This government represents the lowest ebb in our democratic journey. Institutions have been weaponised.”

“Policies are crafted not to empower the people but to entrench fear, obedience, and control.”

Labour Party leader Peter Obi also weighed in, questioning Nigeria’s democratic integrity.

“In just two years, we have moved from rigged elections to collapsing social services; from soaring poverty to rising corruption; from a seemingly stable economy to a parlous one,” Obi said.

“This government has created a situation where failure, lies, and propaganda are now celebrated. Instead of accountability and measurable progress, we are witnessing the manipulation of narratives, blame-shifting, and governance by gaslighting.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) echoed these concerns, accusing the ruling APC of state capture and an orchestrated dismantling of checks and balances.

PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba alleged: “The APC has embarked on a coordinated campaign to dismantle democratic checks and balances, silence opposition voices, and concentrate power in the hands of a few elite individuals, thereby endangering the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.”

In a further blow to the President’s message, Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West criticized Tinubu for failing to restore democracy in Rivers State.

The President had earlier suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers, appointing a federal administrator in their place.

“It was very annoying that the Senate President chose today, Democracy Day of all days, to read the President’s own democratic communication to the National Assembly, making appointments into democratic institutions in Rivers State, when today we expected that he should announce the restoration of democracy,” Dickson said.

Citizens shared in the frustration. “They are practising military regime and dictatorship, so what are we celebrating?” said Emma Uzo, a resident of Rivers State.

Meanwhile, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) issued a stark warning on the state of Nigerian democracy.

Its director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the country’s democratic landscape as regressing.

“In Nigeria, democracy is backsliding because of the frightening collapse of responsible, transparent, and accountable governance under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

He added: “Right now, the nation’s democratic institutions are at their weakest point… Instead of building on the gains of past democratic rule, the country is regressing into a governance model defined by unaccountable leadership, weak institutions, killings, and the total exclusion of citizens from decision-making.”

As Nigeria reflects on June 12, voices from across the spectrum are calling for more than ceremonial observance, they are demanding accountability, reform, and the revival of the democratic promise that once inspired a nation.

Political activist and former lawmaker Usman Bugaje has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of being detached from the everyday struggles of Nigerians due to the influence of close aides who, he says, are shielding him from the country’s harsh realities.

Bugaje made the remarks during a special Democracy Day programme aired by Channels Television on Thursday, titled ‘Nigeria’s Democratic Journey: An Inter-Generational Conversation on Building a Better Nation’, marking 26 years of unbroken democratic rule.

Joining other prominent Nigerians, including former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi, ex-minister Frank Nweke, social entrepreneur Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, and Jamiu Abiola, son of the late MKO Abiola, Bugaje did not hold back in his critique of the current administration.

“It looks like the President has been completely encircled by sycophants.”

“They don’t allow him to see the realities, they don’t tell him the truth. But if he knew what was happening in society, he would be ashamed of himself. As far as I know him, I never thought he would allow this situation,” Bugaje said.

He went on to add:

“He is now there, wallowing in the comfort of the Villa, talking in ways that show he doesn’t even know what is happening in this country. If he knew, he would not be doing the kind of things he’s doing now.”

Bugaje lamented that the Tinubu-led administration is prioritizing image and rhetoric over substance, at a time when Nigerians are yearning for tangible change.

He criticized the disconnect between political speeches and the harsh economic conditions faced by citizens.

“We have now graduated from just listening to speeches that are meant to be politically correct and sound good.”

“What we are interested in is not the speech, but the action, the policies, the way the government is run. That is what will change the lives of the ordinary people,” he said.

Bugaje stressed that democracy, at its core, is meant to serve the people.

However, in Nigeria’s current reality, he argued, this principle has been lost.

“Democracy is about people, designed to serve the people. The real question is: are the people being served?”

“The political economy we are running now is impoverishing the people,” he said.

Turning his attention to the deepening insecurity and economic woes affecting millions, Bugaje cited real-life scenarios of suffering and hardship that, in his view, expose the government’s failure to live up to its constitutional responsibilities.

“What do you say to people whose relatives have been taken by bandits? They’ve sold everything just to get them back, now they have no land to farm, no house to live in, no money to start any business. It’s as if we don’t have a government,” he said.

“Ask the young man who has struggled through university, waiting five to ten years for a job that doesn’t exist. Ask the small business owners how they’re surviving,electricity bills are soaring, there’s no power, no profit.”

“Look at the man driving a keke NAPEP — he can’t even make ends meet. What kind of economy is this? What kind of democracy?”

Bugaje argued that the government has lost its moral and constitutional right to call itself democratic if it cannot deliver on its primary duty: the welfare and security of its citizens.

“If a democracy cannot provide for the people, it has lost its moral and constitutional credibility.”

“The purpose of government, as clearly stated in the constitution, is to provide for the security and welfare of the people. Where is the security? Where is the welfare? Where is the comfort?”

Citing economic data, he painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s current state.

“Per capita income is now 877 dollars, the worst since 1960,” he said.
“Isn’t it a disgrace? A badge of dishonour to the politicians in government who brought us to this level and are still talking about democracy. We have to go back to the fundamentals. There’s a total disconnect between those ruling and the realities in society.”

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has insisted that politicians, not academics, are behind attempts to undermine Nigeria’s electoral integrity.

He said the involvement of professors in election duties has largely strengthened the process, despite isolated incidents of wrongdoing.

Speaking on Thursday at The Platform, an annual Democracy Day event hosted by Covenant Nation in Lagos, Jega defended his decision to involve university lecturers and vice-chancellors in electoral duties during his tenure as INEC chair from 2010 to 2015.

According to Jega, many of these academics were recruited through a transparent process, often with recommendations from vice-chancellors across the country.

“Election was terrible by the time we came to INEC. I was lucky, I was a co-chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors before I went to INEC,” he said.

“So, I used the vice-chancellors to help us get academic staff with good, transparent selection criteria, which they vouch for. That’s how we started using academic staff during elections,” he explained.

Jega pointed out that despite bribes and inducements often offered by desperate politicians, most professors have upheld their professional integrity.

“Up till 2015, in fact after the 2011 elections, the NBA (Nigerian Bar Association), and the NSE (The Nigerian Society of Engineers), all came and said they wanted to participate in the elections but we said: ‘Look, when you are doing something and it works, why change it?’” he recalled.

“So, we stuck with the professors, and I can tell you frankly, the level of integrity they brought to the election (is unmatched).”

He emphasized that professors, especially senior ones with long-standing careers, are unlikely to risk their reputations over elections.

“A vice chancellor who has served 35 years in the university system, who has a few years to retire, a substantial overwhelming majority of them are not going to damage their integrity that they built over the years on the matters of election,” Jega stated.

While acknowledging that a few cases of misconduct have occurred, Jega urged Nigerians not to generalize based on isolated incidents.

“Of course, politicians use all methods of inducements, but the fact that only about two professors, not to talk of vice-chancellors, have been prosecuted for electoral offenses, frankly, is statistically insignificant,” he said.

“It is terrible that it has happened, but I don’t think it is something we can use to say we shouldn’t use professors in the conduct of elections.”

Indeed, two notable convictions were cited. In April 2025, the Court of Appeal in Calabar upheld the conviction of Peter Ogban, a soil science professor at the University of Calabar, who had earlier been sentenced to three years in prison for manipulating election results during the 2019 senatorial polls in Akwa Ibom North-West.

Similarly, in February 2025, Professor Ignatius Nduk, a Human Kinetics lecturer from the University of Uyo, received a three-year sentence from an Akwa Ibom High Court for publishing false results during the 2019 Essien Udim State Constituency election.

Still, Jega, currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, Kano, and a member of the International Elections Advisory Council, maintains that such isolated cases should not overshadow the integrity and value that academics bring to Nigeria’s elections.

As Nigeria marked Democracy Day on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu delivered a strong message in support of free speech, calling on security agencies and political allies to respect the right of citizens to voice criticism, even when directed at his administration.

Speaking at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja during his third Democracy Day address, the President emphasized the importance of tolerance in a democratic society.

“Democracy requires a fair degree of tolerance for harsh words and stinging insults,” Tinubu declared before members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Call me names, call me whatever you will, and I will still call upon democracy to defend your right to do so.”

The President’s remarks come amid ongoing concerns from civil society organisations and media watchdogs about alleged repression of journalists and critics by state security agents.

Several Nigerian journalists, including Daniel Ojukwu, Adejuwon Soyinka, and Segun Olatunji, have reportedly faced detention in the past two years under controversial interpretations of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 and other laws. Critics argue these actions violate Chapter 4, Section 39(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression and information.

Referring to those concerns, Tinubu told lawmakers and his supporters to champion constructive dialogue over coercion.

“Be tolerant and broad-minded in your legislative action regarding speech and civil liberties,” he said.

Tinubu’s administration has been criticized by media professionals, civil rights activists, and groups such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), who have decried what they describe as a rise in “Gestapo-style” arrests and censorship of dissenting voices.

Such tactics, they say, evoke the repression of Nigeria’s military era, something they believe has no place in a democratic nation 26 years into civilian rule.

Acknowledging these concerns, the President appeared to distance himself from any actions that might suppress free expression.

“Do not be afraid to hear an unkind word spoken against you. Some of the best advice a politician gets sometimes comes from his most ferocious opponents,” Tinubu said.

“We dare not seek silence because the imposed silence of repressed voices breeds chaos and ill will, not the harmonics of democracy in the long term.”

“While malicious slander and libel should not go unattended, no one should bear the brunt of injustice for merely writing a bad report about me or calling me names.”

Tinubu reaffirmed his belief in the strength and potential of Nigeria’s democratic system.

“Our nation is not perfect, but it is strong. Our democracy is not invincible, but it is alive. And this means our dream of a prosperous, happy nation is still within reach and worth fighting for.”

The President also addressed growing concerns about Nigeria potentially evolving into a one-party state, an allegation made by some opposition figures.

Tinubu firmly dismissed those claims.

As the country reflects on its democratic journey, one anchored in the legacy of the June 12, 1993 election, Tinubu’s emphasis on civil liberties is being closely watched by both supporters and critics as a test of the administration’s commitment to democratic ideals.

The Progressives Alliance of Nigeria (PAN) has called on Nigerians to deepen their commitment to democratic values, even as the nation marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

In a message delivered to commemorate Democracy Day on June 12, 2025, PAN’s National Coordinator, Hon. Obioma Nnamani (JP), described the day as more than a national holiday, referring to it as “a powerful symbol of our collective struggle, sacrifice, and resilience in the pursuit of justice, equity, and good governance.”

The association reflected on the significance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, which was annulled by the military government.

“Nnamani noted that although the election results were never honoured, the moment became “a catalyst for the democratic progress we enjoy today.”

“We honour the memory of Chief M.K.O. Abiola and all those who paid the ultimate price for our democracy,” he said.

PAN’s address highlighted the group’s commitment to the core pillars of democracy, freedom, participation, accountability, and the rule of law, and emphasized that these principles must be nurtured by both leaders and citizens alike.

“These are not just political ideals,” Nnamani stated, “they are the foundation of a just society where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.”

While applauding the nation’s democratic milestones, PAN urged Nigerians not to lose sight of the challenges still facing the country. Issues such as insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poverty, and electoral malpractice were listed as ongoing threats to Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“True democracy is not a destination; it is a journey that demands the active participation of all of us,” he stressed.

The association encouraged citizens to be more engaged in nation-building, urging them to promote unity, truth, and hope within their communities and professions.

“Let us demand good governance and accountability from our leaders, but also let us be responsible citizens,” Nnamani urged.

PAN also reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside key stakeholders, including government, civil society, and the private sector, to build a stronger and more inclusive Nigeria.

Concluding the address, Nnamani celebrated the nation’s resilience and called for renewed national commitment:

“We celebrate our democracy, honour our heroes, and renew our commitment to a better Nigeria. Happy Democracy Day, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Democracy Day, formally recognised on June 12 by the Nigerian government in 2018, marks a pivotal chapter in the nation’s political evolution, following years of military rule and political upheaval.

In a landmark decision aligning with the spirit of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the National Assembly has formally adopted June 12 as the annual date for the President to address a joint session of the legislature.

The resolution was reached during a special sitting at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday, where President Bola Tinubu delivered a commemorative address to mark the day.

Presiding over the joint session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio affirmed the motion, which was introduced by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

“Mr President, in the eloquent speech by the Honourable Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, he raised a motion that June 12 should be formalised as the Presidential Day of Address to the joint session of the National Assembly. I hereby put the question,” Akpabio announced.

“Those in support of the motion, moved and seconded, say ‘Aye’; those against say ‘Nay’. The ‘Ayes’ have it.”

Following the decision, Akpabio directly addressed President Tinubu, expressing satisfaction with the day’s proceedings.

“Mr President, that is the motion of the National Assembly, done in your presence. Mr Speaker, the statistics do not lie, we are quite happy with the data you rolled out and the House that we all run.”

The move to institutionalise June 12 as the official date for the presidential address had been anticipated.

On Tuesday, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed to journalists that a bill was being drafted to make the practice permanent.

“We are hoping to bring a bill soon to institutionalise the President’s address on June 12 because of its historical importance.”

“There can’t be a better time to address the nation through the Parliament than on June 12, especially since it is a joint sitting of the National Assembly,” he stated.

Bamidele also revealed that the forthcoming legislation would propose the National Assembly complex as the designated location for future presidential inaugurations.

“In that bill, we are hoping to ensure that the swearing-in ceremony of the next President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria, whom we believe will be President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be held within the arcade of the National Assembly.”

As part of the Democracy Day activities, President Tinubu also awarded national honours to several key figures in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Among them was the late Kudirat Abiola, wife of MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 election.

Honours were also conferred on Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), and the late Vice President Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

The date of June 12 holds a special place in Nigeria’s political evolution.

It marks the anniversary of the 1993 general election, which was widely hailed as Nigeria’s fairest but controversially annulled by then-military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida.

This triggered a wave of civil unrest and decades of democratic activism.

Recognising its significance, former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 designated June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day, replacing May 29.

In a major admission earlier this year, Babangida acknowledged in his February 2025 memoir that MKO Abiola had indeed won the 1993 presidential election.

The statement reignited conversations on Nigeria’s democratic trajectory and the price paid for its preservation.

The adoption of June 12 as the formal day for presidential addresses now adds another layer of institutional recognition to the legacy of Nigeria’s pro-democracy heroes.

Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating bold structural reforms that, in his view, saved Nigeria’s economy from a total breakdown.

Speaking during The Platform, a special Democracy Day event hosted by The Covenant Nation in Iganmu, Lagos, Soludo, himself a former Central Bank Governor, praised the administration’s decisive actions, which he said prevented the economy from crossing a dangerous threshold.

“I’d disappoint many who would expect me to comment harshly on the economy or offer yet another blueprint for economic reforms.”

“I’m not shy to say this: the audacious structural reforms embarked upon by the current administration of President Bola Tinubu have rescued the economy from the tipping point,” Soludo said.

Since taking office in May 2023, President Tinubu has launched a series of economic reforms, including the highly debated removal of petrol subsidies and the merging of Nigeria’s multiple exchange rate windows.

Although these policies have increased the cost of living, fueling spikes in transportation fares, food prices, and utilities, they have also been praised by economists as essential for long-term recovery.

Soludo acknowledged the international praise the country has received for these measures.

“The endorsement by the World Bank, the IMF, the London Financial Times, and more in Nigeria is well deserved,” he noted.

Drawing from his tenure as CBN Governor, Soludo reflected on his past dealings with global financial institutions.

He said while he had previously rejected World Bank loan offers due to tough conditions, he believes their recent assessment of Nigeria’s economic direction is accurate.

“On the matter of the trajectory of the current economic reforms, the World Bank and others, in my view, are largely right,” he said.

“When these institutions criticise the government, some people use them as validation of their own criticism.”

“But when the same institutions give a positive report, they are derided as ‘neoliberal, out-of-touch’ institutions. We can’t have it both ways.”

“The Economy Needed to Breathe Again”

The Anambra Governor argued that the Tinubu administration had little choice but to implement drastic changes in order to unlock the economy.

“If we didn’t do the kind of subsidy removal and deal with the exchange rate issues, we would have reached a point where the economy was just standing still.”

“We couldn’t move any further. We needed fundamental rejigging for it to begin to breathe again and thank God, at least, we are here,” he explained.

While he admitted the economic recovery is far from complete, Soludo urged the government not to lose momentum.

“There is still a lot more to do, but I urge the President and his team to steer the course.”

“Many analysts have interesting opinions and quotes, but I urge them to go deeper, with rigorous, factual analysis, and to provide credible alternatives,” he said.

He ended on a philosophical note, quoting a friend:

“The past is always easy, especially if you are not the one doing it.”

The Platform event brought together prominent Nigerian leaders and thinkers as part of the Democracy Day celebrations.

Other speakers included former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, ex-Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, and various state governors and national figures.