TINUBU CANCELS NATIONWIDE BROADCAST, TO ADDRESS NIGERIANS FROM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON DEMOCRACY DAY

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cancelled the traditional nationwide broadcast earlier scheduled for Thursday, June 12, to mark Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary.

This development was announced on Wednesday in a statement by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

According to the statement, the decision followed the president’s scheduled attendance at a joint session of the National Assembly, where he is now expected to deliver his Democracy Day address directly to lawmakers and Nigerians.

Imohiosen explained, “Due to President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled. President Tinubu will deliver his address from the National Assembly.”

The presidency also confirmed that other Democracy Day activities would proceed as earlier planned. Notably, a previous notice to journalists had announced the cancellation of the customary military parade, which was initially slated to hold on Thursday, June 12, at Eagle Square in Abuja. No official reason was provided for that decision.

The revised schedule released by the organising committee indicates that President Tinubu will address the joint session of the National Assembly at 12:00 noon. This will be followed by a public lecture at 4:00 pm at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. The lecture, titled “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms”, is expected to be attended by top government officials, diplomats, and other dignitaries.

The committee also directed that the public lecture would be covered exclusively by accredited State House correspondents.

This shift in the president’s Democracy Day address format marks a notable departure from the longstanding tradition of early morning nationwide broadcasts, signalling what observers describe as an attempt to reinforce the centrality of the legislature in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Meanwhile, security around the National Assembly complex and major parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been heightened ahead of the scheduled events.

As the nation marks 26 years of unbroken democratic rule, President Tinubu’s address is expected to focus on the achievements, challenges, and the way forward for Nigeria’s democracy under his Renewed Hope Agenda.