The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among the political leaders who backed the adoption of rotational presidency following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
According to Akume, the controversial cancellation of the election won by the late MKO Abiola forced political stakeholders to make difficult decisions aimed at preserving national unity and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga, Akume made the remarks on Tuesday during a World Press Conference in Abuja held as part of activities commemorating Nigeria’s 27th Democracy Day anniversary.
The SGF recalled that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gathered in Kaduna under the leadership of the late Solomon Lar and Adamu Ciroma to discuss the nation’s political future, where the issue of power rotation became a major topic.
“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.
According to him, the decision to rotate presidential power between the North and South was introduced to address the political consequences of the June 12 annulment and encourage inclusiveness and national cohesion.
Akume’s comments come amid renewed debates about power rotation ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku, who is from northern Nigeria and currently serves as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, is expected to contest against incumbent President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking a second term in office.
Tinubu, a southerner, became president in 2023 after the completion of the constitutionally permitted two-term tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku has faced criticism from political opponents and the Presidency for maintaining presidential ambitions during periods when many political stakeholders argue that power should remain in the South.
Reflecting on the significance of June 12, Akume described the annulment of the election as one of the most painful moments in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“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.
The SGF noted that one of the major lessons from the June 12 experience is the importance of respecting the will of the people in a democracy.
“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.
Akume also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying the country has learned from the events of 1993 and would not allow such an annulment to happen again.
“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.
He praised INEC officials, describing them as individuals of integrity committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process.
“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 further noted that Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule demonstrate the country’s commitment to democratic governance, freedom, and peaceful political participation.
“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.
He also highlighted freedom of expression as one of democracy’s key benefits.
“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.
Akume concluded by urging political actors to uphold democratic principles, respect election outcomes, and continue working towards strengthening Nigeria’s democratic culture and institutions.
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