By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
PRESIDENT BOLA Tinubu will now deliver his Democracy Day address from the National Assembly, replacing the previously scheduled 7.00am national broadcast.
The shift in plan was confirmed on Wednesday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, the change was made to accommodate Tinubu’s attendance at a joint session of the National Assembly on 12 June.
“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 rescheduled,” the statement read.
“President Bola Ahmed will deliver his address from the National Assembly. All other plans are in order as announced earlier.”
The initial plan had the president addressing the nation in a pre-recorded morning broadcast before heading to the joint session. That broadcast will no longer take place.
Instead, his message will be delivered live from the legislative chamber, as part of the formal Democracy Day proceedings.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day also confirmed that there will be no ceremonial parade this year.
However, a public lecture will take place at 4.00pm at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. The lecture is themed “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms.”
This year marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria since the end of military governance in 1999.
Previously held on 29 May, the swearing-in day for presidents and governors, Democracy Day was moved to 12 June in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The change honoured the late Moshood K. O. Abiola, presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll.
This 2025 observance is the third Democracy Day under Tinubu’s administration.
The statement notes that his government has continued to mark the occasion against the backdrop of public debate over democratic performance and constitutional accountability.