President Bola Tinubu has urged political actors and citizens to commit to peaceful engagement and full compliance with the Electoral Act as Nigeria moves toward the next general elections. In his 2026 Easter message, Tinubu emphasized the need for political tolerance and national unity, calling on all parties to reject violence and uphold democratic norms. He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to combating terrorism and banditry through enhanced local security operations and collaboration with international allies. The president highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen intelligence gathering and military capacity in conflict-prone regions. "Peace is not a gift from heaven; it is a condition created by justice, fairness and respect for law," Tinubu stated.
Tinubu's call for peaceful politics rings hollow when set against the backdrop of escalating state-sanctioned violence during recent protests and the continued detention of opposition figures. His appeal to the Electoral Act carries little weight without concrete steps to ensure INEC's independence and curb electoral manipulation. For ordinary Nigerians, the gap between presidential rhetoric and ground realities remains as wide as ever.
