President Bola Tinubu has declared that he is fully prepared to seek re-election in 2027, insisting that any challenger hoping to remove him from office must be ready for a tough political contest because he has no intention of relinquishing power without a fight.
The President made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Addressing concerns over the credibility of future elections, Tinubu defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the electoral body as impartial and rejecting claims that it had been used to intimidate opposition parties.
According to him, political parties complaining about the electoral process were largely battling internal divisions rather than any form of interference from the electoral commission.
“I asked for this job. I’m in it. Those who will take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and it’s equal opportunity,” the President said.
Tinubu maintained that INEC had carried out its constitutional responsibilities without bias.
“INEC, you mentioned, is neutral. They’ve never, never intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the company they keep, not me,” he added.
Reaffirming his determination to defend his mandate at the next presidential election, Tinubu stressed that victory would only come through political competition.
“I’m ready, but I won’t give them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me and rope me. No, we wrestle each other to the finishing point,” he declared.
The President also used the occasion to defend the performance of his administration, arguing that despite economic and security challenges inherited by his government, reforms were beginning to produce positive outcomes.
He cited improvements in the education sector, particularly the stability in public universities, noting that industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had not disrupted academic activities under his administration.
“The quality of life is improving. Our founding fathers did their best; they lived for the nation, and we owe it to generations yet unborn to build a nation of unity, stability and prosperity,” Tinubu said.
Highlighting the uninterrupted academic calendar in tertiary institutions, he described the absence of prolonged ASUU strikes as a major achievement.
“You can’t say a four-year course is no longer four years. ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that’s an answer,” he stated.
On security, the President acknowledged that Nigeria still faces significant threats but insisted his administration remained committed to tackling insecurity while safeguarding national unity.
“The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country but Nigeria. The challenges are there. I inherited them. I didn’t run away,” Tinubu said.
He called on Nigerians to remain optimistic and united, expressing confidence that the country would continue to record progress despite its current challenges.
