With less than six months to the 2027 presidential election, President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his confidence in the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He emphasized that he will not be swayed by opposition tactics and pledged to contest vigorously, declaring that the political battle will be fought to the finishing point.
Tinubu spoke when he received the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the State House on Tuesday.
He maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission is neutral, noting that those crying wolves are afraid of their own shadows.
Tinubu also said that he is aware of those trying to take his job away from him.
“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.
“INEC, you mentioned, is neutral. They’ve never, 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.
“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,” the President said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by Mathew Man-Oso Ndagoso, Archbishop of Kaduna and President of CBCN, at the State House. Tuesday, July 28, 2026
He also noted that the quality of life is improving, noting that he inherited the assets and liabilities of his predecessor and had been running with it.
“The quality of life is improving. Our founding fathers did their best; they lived for the nation, and we owe it to our generations yet unborn to build the nation of unity, stability and prosperity for the future, to educate our people.
“Yes. None of your children in the university today, and I will say all of them are your children, the reverend fathers,” Tinubu said.
“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. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that’s an answer.
“The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country, but here, this Nigeria.
“And then we revert to our national anthem. In this complexity, diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all of us, as humanity.
“And that is all, I think. Yes, I’ve seen that. The challenges are there. I inherited it. I didn’t run away,” he added.
Earlier, the President of the CBCN appreciated the President for the warm reception extended to the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of relations between Nigeria and the Vatican.
Ndagoso outlined areas of concern in the country, which include security, quality tertiary education and limited spaces, sustaining gains of democracy, credible elections and poverty.
The President of CBCN also urged President Tinubu to consider the return of mission schools and fair treatment for all worshippers, including the provision of worship places in all parts of the country, without bias.
The Archbishop of Kaduna also called for free and fair elections in 2027.
