Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar played a role in the political consensus that led to the adoption of Nigeria’s rotational presidency arrangement following the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 election.
Akume made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday during a World Press Conference organised as part of activities commemorating the nation’s 27th Democracy Day anniversary. According to him, the controversial cancellation of the election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola forced political leaders to rethink the structure of power-sharing in order to preserve national stability and strengthen democratic inclusion.
The SGF explained that discussions within the then-emerging Peoples Democratic Party became pivotal in shaping the eventual agreement to alternate presidential power between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
Recalling the deliberations, Akume said a meeting convened by the late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma in Kaduna brought together key political figures who debated the future of the country and the need for a balancing arrangement in national leadership.
According to him, the discussions were intense before consensus was eventually reached.
“It was a tough argument before the issue of rotational presidency was agreed on. At the end, we had to concede. We must do this.
“June 12 annulment had complicated the whole thing. It was finally agreed that we’ll be alternating between North and South.
“Atiku was one of the leaders at that meeting, which was convened by Chief Solomon Lar. He was part of that agreement,” Akume was quoted as saying.
He noted that the rotational arrangement emerged as a political solution designed to address the tensions generated by the annulled election and to reassure different regions of their place within the Nigerian federation.
Akume’s remarks come at a time when debates over power rotation have resurfaced ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku Abubakar, now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, is expected to challenge President Bola Tinubu, whose election in 2023 followed the completion of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-term tenure.
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Political opponents of Atiku have frequently questioned his continued presidential ambitions, arguing that the spirit of power rotation favours the South retaining the presidency beyond 2027.
Reflecting on the significance of June 12, Akume described the annulment of Abiola’s victory as one of the most painful episodes in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
“Abiola won that election round and square. That election was annulled by the military government. It was very painful because the people spoke, and they spoke freely. They made their own choice,” he said.
He stressed that the events of 1993 underscored the importance of respecting the electorate’s mandate in any democratic system.
“The first lesson is that the voice of the people must always be supreme; it must be sacrosanct. That’s the beauty of democracy. We prefer the ballot to bullets,” he stated.
The SGF expressed confidence that Nigeria’s democratic institutions have matured significantly since the June 12 era, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission, which he said understands the consequences of undermining the people’s mandate.
“If an election is conducted very fairly, and one wins, no problem. The actors at the Independent National Electoral Commission are not young people; they were adults when this thing happened.
“If we were to take a poll at that time, over two-thirds of Nigerians would have condemned that act of annulment,” he said.
Akume further praised the leadership of INEC, insisting that those entrusted with managing elections today are committed to protecting democratic values and ensuring that such an incident never recurs.
“Fortunately for us, those at INEC are men of honour and integrity. They are well-read, patriotic Nigerians, and they are determined to make a difference. Never again would such happen in this country.
“You win, you win. When you lose, go back and prepare for another election. Look at the American example. President Trump lost to Joe Biden. He didn’t bring America down. He went back, prepared and came back and won. That’s the beauty of democracy,” Akume said.
The SGF described Nigeria’s uninterrupted democratic experience since 1999 as evidence of the nation’s commitment to constitutional governance and civil liberties.
“We have decided to embrace democracy. That is why, for 27 unbroken years, we have been enjoying this freedom in a democratic setting. We love the values and the morals of democracy, and there is no system that is as beautiful as democracy,” he said.
Highlighting freedom of expression as one of democracy’s greatest benefits, Akume argued that citizens enjoy liberties that are often absent under authoritarian systems.
“It is under a democratic system that you can insult your president and insult anybody and still go to bed, and you don’t receive a midnight knock on your door. Try it under a totalitarian regime,” he stated.
He concluded by urging politicians, institutions and citizens to remain committed to democratic ideals, respect electoral outcomes and continue strengthening the culture of peaceful political participation that has sustained the country’s democratic journey for nearly three decades.
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