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President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his resolve to seek a second term in office in 2027, declaring that any political opponent determined to unseat him must be prepared for a fierce contest, insisting he would not surrender power without a fight.
The President made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Responding to concerns raised about Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the next general election, Tinubu defended the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dismissing allegations that the electoral umpire had intimidated opposition political parties.
“I asked for this job. I’m in it. Those who will take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and it’s equal opportunity,” the President said.
He maintained that INEC had remained impartial in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, arguing that opposition parties were being unsettled by internal challenges rather than external interference.
“INEC, you mentioned, is neutral. They’ve never, never intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolves, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the companies they keep, not me,” Tinubu stated.
Reaffirming his determination to defend his mandate at the polls, the President declared that the 2027 presidential contest would be decided through political competition rather than concessions.
“I’m ready, but I won’t give them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me and rope me. No, we wrestle each other to the finishing point,” he added.
Tinubu also defended the performance of his administration, insisting that despite the economic and security challenges confronting the country, Nigeria was making measurable progress under his leadership.
According to him, key reforms introduced since he assumed office have begun to yield positive results, particularly in the education sector where prolonged industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have not disrupted academic activities.
“The quality of life is improving. Our founding fathers did their best; they lived for the nation, and we owe it to generations yet unborn to build a nation of unity, stability and prosperity,” the President said.
He noted that Nigerian universities had maintained stable academic calendars, describing the absence of ASUU strikes as one of his administration’s notable achievements.
“You can’t say a four-year course is no longer four years. ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that’s an answer,” Tinubu remarked.
Speaking on security, the President acknowledged that significant challenges remained but stressed that his administration was committed to addressing them while preserving Nigeria’s unity and stability.
“The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country but Nigeria. The challenges are there. I inherited them. I didn’t run away,” he said.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and united despite the country’s diversity and ongoing socio-economic difficulties, expressing confidence that the nation would continue to make progress under his administration.
