President Bola Tinubu will deliver a nationwide broadcast at 7 a.m. on Friday, June 12, as Nigeria marks the 2026 Democracy Day.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the address would be transmitted live on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) network and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

“President Bola Tinubu will deliver a national address on Friday, June 12, in commemoration of Democracy Day. The speech is scheduled to air on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) network and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) at 7:00 a.m. All television and radio stations are requested to link up with the broadcast,” the statement read.

The President’s address comes as the country reflects on its democratic journey and amid heightened public concern over security challenges in parts of the country, including the abduction of dozens of people, among them schoolchildren and teachers, in Oyo State.

The attack sparked protests and prompted the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to declare an indefinite strike in affected public schools.

Earlier on Thursday, the Federal Government declared Friday a public holiday to commemorate Democracy Day.

The declaration was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

The government said the observance recognises June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history and honours the courage, resilience and sacrifices of citizens who fought for democratic governance.

June 12 commemorates the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.

The poll was largely believed to have been won by the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, but its annulment by the military government triggered a prolonged political crisis and intensified the struggle for the restoration of democracy.

Although Nigeria previously observed Democracy Day on May 29, former President Muhammadu Buhari moved the celebration to June 12 in 2018 to recognise the significance of the 1993 election and the sacrifices of pro-democracy campaigners. (Channels TV)

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