President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged voters, security agencies, and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner during Saturday’s elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rivers, and Kano states. The polls, scheduled for February 21, 2026, are coming just days after the President signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law, a development widely seen as a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic framework.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President called on all eligible voters to come out en masse and exercise their civic responsibility without fear or intimidation. Tinubu emphasised that democracy thrives best in an atmosphere of calm, tolerance, and mutual respect, noting that peaceful participation is critical to the credibility and acceptance of the electoral outcome.
He also appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to shun violence, inflammatory rhetoric, and any actions capable of undermining the integrity of the electoral process. The President charged security agencies to remain professional and impartial in the discharge of their duties, while urging INEC officials to uphold the highest standards of transparency and fairness throughout the exercise.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to credible elections, Tinubu expressed confidence that Nigerians would demonstrate political maturity and set a positive example for democratic governance on the African continent.
