Former Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his contributions to democratic governance in Nigeria.

Amgbare, now Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), spoke in commemoration of June 12 Democracy Day.

He recalled contesting the 2007 Bayelsa governorship election and challenging the outcome in court after alleging widespread irregularities.

According to him, with the support of then AC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, and National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt nullified the election in February 2008.

“As a follower of President Tinubu, I have continued to uphold the principles of democracy. The ballot remains the best way to choose leaders,” he said.

Amgbare noted that democracy extends beyond voting, stressing that the post-election process is equally important.

“In 2007, the electoral process was flawed and the people’s mandate was threatened. We did not resort to violence; we sought justice through the courts,” he said.

According to him, the court judgment demonstrated that the ballot is the only legitimate route to political power in a democracy.

He noted that the ruling also reaffirmed the strength of the rule of law when political leaders are willing to defend democratic values.

“President Tinubu and the AC showed that opposition politics is about constitutional engagement, not hostility,” he said.

Amgbare added that the party challenged the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party through legal processes, petitions and evidence rather than violence.

He said election victories secured through the courts in states such as Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Edo and Bayelsa strengthened public confidence in democratic institutions.

“That era taught Nigerians that when votes are disputed, the courts remain a lawful avenue for redress,” he said.

He described patience and sacrifice as essential ingredients of democracy, noting that electoral litigation often demands endurance and commitment.

Amgbare further stated that respect for judicial decisions remains critical to democratic growth and national stability.

“Democracy weakens when citizens lose faith in the courts, but it grows when leaders respect judgments, even when they are unfavourable,” he said.

He expressed pride in his role in what he described as the AC’s broader mission of promoting a Nigeria where no individual or political party is above the law.

Amgbare also commended Tinubu’s support for the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER), where he served on the steering committee under the leadership of Pa Ayo Opadokun.

He said CODER, established in 2009 by civil society groups and democracy advocates, played a significant role in advancing electoral reforms in Nigeria.

According to him, the coalition contributed to reforms that strengthened voter register integrity, enhanced the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and improved election credibility.

Amgbare recalled that the Court of Appeal nullified the election of former Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva on February 15, 2008, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act and widespread irregularities.

Although Sylva later won the rerun election, Amgbare said the case became a symbol of the opposition’s commitment to pursuing electoral justice through the judiciary rather than violence.

He noted that the Action Congress, formed in 2006, emerged as a major opposition platform before merging with other parties in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The merger ultimately led to the APC’s victory in the 2015 presidential election, ending the Peoples Democratic Party’s 16-year hold on power.

•PHOTO: Prince Ebitimi Amgbare (L) welcoming President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Bayelsa International Airport on April 10