Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said he had “no choice” but to sign the Electoral Act after it was passed with overwhelming support by the National Assembly of Nigeria.
The president explained that he chose to respect the rule of law rather than plunge the country into political turmoil.
Tinubu made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the State House.
Reflecting on governance and the nature of politics in a democratic system, Tinubu said he respected the decision of the National Assembly which passed the legislation with strong backing.
“I had no choice. I didn’t want to throw the country into turmoil of argument,” he said.
“There was an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly that passed the law. If I had serious questions or reservations, I would have raised them. But I submitted myself to the principle of the rule of law and democracy. I signed, and the rest is history.”
The president also emphasised the need for compromise and cooperation among political actors in a democracy.
“The game of politics is sweet only when you’re winning,” Tinubu said.
He added that both leaders and citizens must learn to accommodate and support one another in order to strengthen democratic institutions.
“We must accommodate one another. We must help one another. We must strengthen the platform. But in democracy, yes, there must be peace, stability, and commitment to the rule of law,” he said.
