President Bola Tinubu has lauded Nigerian democracy for 25 years, saying the country has “established a tradition” of holding “transparent and fair” elections and peaceful transitions of government.

The President said, “That we have established a tradition of holding transparent, open, and fair elections gives credence to our democratic bearing.  That we have experienced peaceful transitions of government affirms our democratic temperament.”

In his Democracy Day live broadcast, commemorating Nigeria’s 25th democracy anniversary, Mr Tinubu eulogised Nigerians who actively participated in the fight against military rule and those who lost their lives in the struggle.

Mr Tinubu said though elections in democracy attract attention, no nation can be truly democratic without periodic elections.

“While elections attract dramatic attention, they are but one aspect of democracy. Democracy is a way of life that encompasses a broad outlook of which elections are but a part. As such, a nation can have elections without being democratic. But a nation cannot be truly democratic without holding elections,” Mr Tinubu said.

Nigeria’s 2023 general elections were marred by violence and bloodshed with at least 74 persons killed in 101 violent incidents, according to the European Union Election Observation Mission Nigeria 2023.

The EU EOM reported that “Law enforcement agencies failed to prosecute persons who attacked, intimidated, harassed, or obstructed journalists prior to, on and after both election days.”

“The EU EOM observers confirmed multiple incidents involving the media. Several attacks occurred in plain sight of the police and in some cases the police detained the journalist who documented irregularities, but not the attacker. It clearly evidences the absence of actual practices for protection of media practitioners.”