It has been 26 years since the return of democracy in Nigeria. In those years, the country saw the emergence of five presidents and several elections, which ushered in new sets of leaders both at the national and state levels.
Originally celebrated on May 29, the day Nigeria transitioned to democracy with the swearing-in of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the same date in 1999, Democracy Day was moved to June 12 – in
2018 – by the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari in honour of the June 12, 1993
election described as the country’s freest polls.
To mark this year’s Democracy Day, President Bola Tinubu is expected to address the nation at a joint session of the National Assembly. Several other activities have been lined up in the nation’s capital and across the country to celebrate the day. Unlike previous years, the ceremonial parade will not be held in the nation’s capital.