President Bola Tinubu has declared that he is fully prepared to seek re-election in 2027, saying anyone hoping to remove him from office must be ready to “wrestle” him until the end.
The president made the remark on Tuesday while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its president, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the State House in Abuja.
Responding to concerns about the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu insisted that the electoral body had remained fair and had not intimidated any political party.
“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 also dismissed allegations that INEC was biased, suggesting that opposition parties were worried about their own internal challenges.
“INEC is neutral. They’ve never intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolves, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the companies they keep, not me,” he said.
The president added that he would not make it easy for anyone seeking to unseat him.
“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,” Tinubu declared.
Speaking on his administration’s performance, Tinubu maintained that Nigeria was making progress despite the challenges his government inherited.
He pointed to the stability in the university system, noting that students were completing their academic programmes without disruptions caused by prolonged strikes.
“You can’t say a four-year course is not four years. ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. To me, that’s an answer to our prayers,” he said.
Tinubu also acknowledged the country’s security and economic challenges but insisted his administration remains committed to addressing them.
“The challenges are there. I inherited it. I didn’t run away,” the president added.
