Tinubu urges politicians to submit to rule of law

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed his lifelong commitment to democracy, declaring himself a “die-hard democrat” and urging Nigerian politicians across party lines to submit to the rule of law and the principles that sustain democratic governance.

Speaking at an interfaith breakfast with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Executives, National Working Committee (NWC), and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the State House, Tinubu reflected on decades of political struggle that defined his democratic conviction.

“We are all democrats, and we all subscribed to this democracy voluntarily, willingly, and we’ve been at it selflessly in the last 26 years. Some of us have the bruises from it, struggling for it. We went to detention, we protested… We went on exile and all of that. We formed NADECO. We got here,” Tinubu told the gathering.

Tracing his political journey, the President highlighted that his belief in democracy was not mere political rhetoric but a deeply held personal creed.

“I followed the leadership destiny that God has done and chosen for me, there’s no doubt about that. I’m a die-hard democrat, and I follow that belief wholeheartedly, committedly, to a united country; Nigeria. That principle and that philosophy will live and die with me,” he stated.

Tinubu, addressing IPAC National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle directly, stressed that party membership and political alignment must remain voluntary, even when it attracts persecution.

“We are all democrats, voluntarily, party alliances, party ideologies or no ideology, party boat, party platform, in whichever form, it’s voluntary. Be persecuted for it. So no threat from any democrat,” he said.

Defending the Electoral Act

The President’s remarks come amid sustained debate over the Electoral Act 2026, which he signed into law on February 18 after it was passed by the National Assembly with an overwhelming majority.

The new legislation — introducing direct or consensus primaries, mandating digital membership registers 21 days before primaries, and restricting courts from halting electoral processes — has drawn concerns from opposition parties and civil society groups over potential implications for inclusivity.

Tinubu defended his decision to sign the law, saying it was a matter of democratic principle rather than political preference.

“That I signed the Electoral Act, I have no choice. I don’t want to throw the country into turmoil of argument… there is an overwhelming majority by the National Assembly that passed the law. If I have serious question or reservation about it, I would have raised it. But I have none, I submitted myself to the principle of Rule of Law, democracy. I signed, the rest is history. We’ll meet at the polls,” he stated flatly.
He further asserted that respect for law remains central to democracy.

“The Rule of Law must prevail in any democracy. Yes, Rule of Law. Majority will have their say and their way, and minority will have their say and might not have their way. That is the sweetness, the essence of democracy,” the President declared.

Calling for tolerance and civility in political contests, Tinubu urged politicians to embrace genuine democratic dialogue. “Argue it, debate it intellectually, interrogate each other, honestly and sincerely, but we are committed to the same thing, peace and stability of the country, and we adhere to it,” he said.

Tinubu, who reminded attendees that he had long been in opposition without threatening anyone “except military junta,” urged all political players to demonstrate restraint and mutual respect.

“I’m a registered voter. I’m on the same platform with you, or not, I’m going to stick to my platform. When it was against me years past, I toed the line,” he said.

Ending on a conciliatory note, the President reiterated that democracy — with its demands for patience, inclusion, and adherence to law — remains Nigeria’s best hope.

“The game is sweet only when you are winning. It’s alright we must accommodate one another, we must help one another. We must strengthen the platform. But democracy is it? Yes, there must be peace, stability and commitment to Rule of Law,” he observed.

Earlier, IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, had commended the President as a “listening father and an inclusive president,” but expressed concerns about three provisions within the new Electoral Act.

Dantalle specifically appealed for reconsideration of the 21-day deadline for submitting membership registers with mandatory National Identification Numbers, which he argued could disenfranchise many Nigerians. He also questioned the removal of indirect primaries and decried the withdrawal of government subventions to political parties.

“We are not saying give us money to go and spend, no, but prudently what we can use to take care of administration of our political parties. You are a product of multi-party democracy, Your Excellency,” Dantalle pleaded.

He added that IPAC had previously worked discreetly with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections to prevent democracy from being derailed. Dantalle also called for federal support to relocate the council from its current “rented apartment.”