Journalists Barred as Tinubu Set to Speak at National Assembly at Noon

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares to deliver his Democracy Day speech to a joint session of the National Assembly, journalists accredited to cover the event were on Thursday denied access to the chamber where the address is scheduled to take place.

Despite holding valid accreditation tags, reporters from major media outlets including The Guardian, Vanguard, TVC News, Punch, News Central, The Nation, and ITV were stopped by security personnel at the entrance to the National Assembly’s press gallery. Officials from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Sergeant-at-Arms, and other security operatives insisted that only individuals with “special accreditation” would be allowed entry.

While the accredited journalists were barred, several politicians, aides, and other non-official attendees were seen entering the chamber without restriction. The press corps was directed to follow the proceedings remotely via television screens at the National Assembly’s media centre.

Journalists condemned the move as a violation of press freedom and viewed it as a deliberate attempt to restrict media coverage of a key national event.
President Tinubu had earlier cancelled a planned national broadcast commemorating Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary. Instead, he chose to deliver his speech before a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives. Other Democracy Day activities, such as a public lecture at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, are continuing as scheduled, but there will be no Democracy Day parade this year.