ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his scheduled nationwide broadcast to mark Democracy Day, opting instead to deliver his address from the National Assembly during a joint session of both legislative chambers.
The change in plans was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
“Due to H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled,” the statement said.
“President Bola Ahmed will deliver his address from the National Assembly. All other plans are in order as announced earlier.”
The President was initially expected to deliver a televised address at 7:00 a.m., followed by his participation in the joint session.
His speech at the National Assembly will now serve as the official presidential message for the 2025 Democracy Day celebrations.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day had earlier outlined the schedule of events to commemorate 26 years of uninterrupted civilian rule in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by Abdulhakeem Adeoye on behalf of the director of information, the day will feature a public lecture at 4:00 p.m. at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
This year’s lecture is themed “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms.” Notably, the committee confirmed there will be no parade as part of the 2025 celebration.
Democracy Day, previously marked on May 29—the date of the presidential inauguration—was officially moved to June 12 in 2018 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
The decision was made to honour the legacy of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.
