President Bola Tinubu says he remains committed to upholding democracy, the rule of law and national unity in Nigeria.
The president made the remarks on Wednesday during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the national working committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and leaders of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the presidential villa in Abuja.
IPAC is made up of the national chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties in the country.
Addressing the gathering, Tinubu said the nation’s unity and stability depend on the pillars of good governance, assuring that his administration would continue to protect those values for the benefit of future generations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu noted that many Nigerians made sacrifices for the country’s democracy, stressing that no democrat would face threats during his administration.
“The Chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, provoked some questions. I am glad we are all democrats. And we all subscribe to this democracy voluntarily, willingly, and we’ve been at it selflessly in the last 26 years,” he said.
“Some of us had been bruised struggling for it. We were detained, we protested, we had street demonstrations, we went into exile and all of that.
“We formed National Democratic Coalition. I followed the leadership destiny that God has chosen for me. There’s no doubt about it. I am a die-hard democrat.
“I followed that belief wholeheartedly, committed to a united Nigeria, and that principle and the philosophy will live and die with me.”
The president added that the rule of law must always prevail in a democratic system, where both majority and minority interests are respected.
“There’s no threat from any democrat under my watch. The rule of law must prevail in any democracy. The majority will have their way, and the minority will have their say and their way. I must not stand in their way. That is the sweetness, the essence of democracy,” he said.
Tinubu also assured party leaders that his administration would remain committed to conducting free and fair elections, while reaffirming his loyalty to the APC.
“I am a registered voter. I am on the same platform as you. I’m going to stick to my platform. When it was against me years ago, I toed the line. I was in opposition without a threat to any human being except the military junta,” he said.
“I want democracy, and since democracy is back here, there’s a fundamental voluntariness that is enshrined, and I am extremely glad to listen to you.”
In his response, Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the APC, praised the president for “providing strong leadership and ensuring the skilful management of human and material resources in a diverse and multi-ethnic society”.
“We thank you for inviting the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, IPAC and other political parties to be part of this breaking of fast. This means so much for us as a party and people,” Yilwatda said.
He also assured the president of the party’s support in achieving his vision for the country.
“We are grateful to God to have you as a leader of this country. We shall support you, and we will stand by you as a party,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Dantalle, chairman of IPAC, appealed to the president to reconsider the use of the National Identity Management Commission’s National Identity Number (NIN) as a requirement for voter registration.
“Many eligible voters might be disenfranchised by the requirement for NIN and the removal of the indirect mode for party nominations as enshrined in the newly signed 2026 Electoral Law,” Dantalle said.
He also urged the government to restore the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s financial support for political parties.