President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he had “no choice” but to sign the Electoral Act, explaining that the bill was passed with overwhelming support by the National Assembly of Nigeria.
According to Tinubu, he chose to respect the rule of law rather than plunge the country into political turmoil.
He made the remarks while addressing the All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja, where he reflected on the challenges of governance and the nature of politics in a democratic system.
Speaking on the Electoral Act, the president said he chose to respect the decision of the National Assembly of Nigeria, which passed the legislation with overwhelming support.
“I had no choice. I didn’t want to throw the country into turmoil of argument,” Tinubu said.
“There was an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly that passed the law. If I had serious questions or reservations, I would have raised them. But I submitted myself to the principle of the rule of law and democracy. I signed, and the rest is history.”
The president stressed that democracy requires compromise and mutual support among political actors, noting that political competition often feels rewarding only when one is victorious.
“The game of politics is sweet only when you’re winning,” he said.
Tinubu added that leaders and citizens alike must learn to accommodate and support one another in order to strengthen democratic institutions.
“We must accommodate one another. We must help one another. We must strengthen the platform. But in democracy, yes, there must be peace, stability, and commitment to the rule of law,” he said.
