NIGERIA: Tinubu To Address Nation Thursday Morning, Cancels Democracy Day Parade

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Federal Government has announced that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deliver a national broadcast at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, 2025, as part of Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day celebrations, following the Federal Government’s decision to cancel the traditional military parade.

The announcement was made in a statement released on Wednesday by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day Celebration.

While no official reason was provided for the cancellation of the parade, the government has introduced a revised schedule of commemorative events.

According to Abdulhakeem Adeoye, who signed the statement on behalf of the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President Tinubu will also attend a special joint session of the National Assembly at 12:00 p.m. on the same day. The session will reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey and highlight significant government reforms.

A Democracy Day Public Lecture will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. Themed “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms,” the event will be covered exclusively by accredited State House correspondents.

The official Democracy day schedule include,  Presidential National Broadcast at 7:00 a.m, Joint Session of the National Assembly at 12:00 p.m , and a Public Lecture at the State House Conference Centre by 4:00 p.m.

Democracy Day, observed annually on June 12, commemorates the annulled 1993 elections widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, and honors the country’s ongoing journey toward democratic consolidation.