President Bola Tinubu has declared that he will vigorously defend his mandate ahead of the 2027 general election, saying he will not hand over power to political opponents without a democratic contest.
The President made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking on the political landscape, Tinubu said those seeking to unseat him were free to contest but should expect a fair political battle.
“Those who want to take power from me will try, and that is their right in a democracy. But I will not make it easy for them. We will contest to the very end because that is what democracy is about,” he said.
Tinubu also defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), rejecting claims that the electoral body favours any political party.
According to him, INEC has remained impartial, adding that opposition parties raising concerns about the commission may simply be uncertain about their own political strength.
Addressing the country’s education sector, the President said one of the major achievements of his administration was the stability in public universities, noting that the absence of strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had restored confidence in the academic calendar.
He said students can now complete their university programmes within the expected duration, describing the development as a significant relief for Nigerian families.
On the economy, Tinubu acknowledged inheriting both the achievements and challenges of the previous administration but maintained that his government’s reforms had begun to produce positive results.
He expressed optimism that economic stability had been achieved and that Nigerians would continue to experience improvements in their quality of life.
The President also addressed the issue of returning mission schools to their original owners, recalling that his administration as Governor of Lagos State returned several schools to the Catholic Church.
However, he explained that the authority to return mission schools now rests with state governments, urging the Catholic bishops to engage governors directly on the matter.
Speaking on security and national unity, Tinubu admitted that Nigeria continues to face significant challenges but stressed that citizens must work together to build a more stable and prosperous nation.
He said Nigeria’s diversity should remain a source of strength and called for collective efforts to secure a better future for generations to come.
The delegation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, led by Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, concluded the visit after a closed-door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa.
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