President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to speak before a joint session of Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. This event marks the nation’s annual celebration of Democracy Day, commemorating the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the most credible election in Nigeria’s post-independence history.
The 1993 election, won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola, was controversially annulled by the military regime led by General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), a decision that has since become a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
According to a statement released on Sunday by House of Representatives Spokesman Akin Rotimi, members of the National Assembly have been officially notified of the special joint sitting through an internal memorandum from the House Clerk, Yahaya Danzaria. The session is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. with preliminary proceedings, followed by President Tinubu’s arrival and address at 12 noon.
The theme for this year’s Democracy Day celebration is “26 years of democracy: Renewing our commitment to national development.” President Tinubu will serve as the Special Guest of Honour and deliver a presidential address highlighting the progress and future aspirations of Nigeria’s democracy.
The programme will also include goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly and the conferment of National Honours on select legislators by the President. The statement emphasized the importance of this gathering, noting, “This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey. It underscores the pivotal role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.”
The House of Representatives calls on all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for “reflection, renewed patriotism, and commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united nation.”
