President Bola Tinubu is set to deliver a nationwide broadcast at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, June 12, as Nigeria commemorates Democracy Day 2026.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the address would be aired live on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
According to the statement, all television and radio stations across the country have been directed to connect to the live broadcast.
“President Bola Tinubu will deliver a national address on Friday, June 12, in commemoration of Democracy Day. The speech is scheduled to air on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) network and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) at 7:00 a.m. All television and radio stations are requested to link up with the broadcast,” the statement said.
The President’s address comes as Nigerians reflect on the nation’s democratic journey and amid growing concerns over security challenges in parts of the country. Recent incidents, including the abduction of dozens of people—among them schoolchildren and teachers—in Oyo State, have heightened public anxiety.
The attack triggered protests and led the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to declare an indefinite strike in affected public schools.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has declared Friday, June 12, a public holiday to mark Democracy Day. The declaration was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The government noted that the annual observance honours June 12 as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s democratic history and recognizes the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of citizens who fought for democratic governance.
Democracy Day commemorates the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest poll in Nigeria’s history. The election was believed to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, but its annulment by the military government sparked a prolonged political crisis and intensified calls for the restoration of democratic rule in the country.
