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Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was instrumental in the political consensus that led to the implementation of Nigeria’s rotational presidential arrangement following the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 elections.
Akume disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the World Press Conference held as part of activities to mark the country’s 27th Democracy Day. According to him, the controversial annulment of the election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola forced political leaders to rethink power-sharing structures in order to maintain national stability and strengthen democratic inclusion.
The SGF explained that discussions within the then emerging Peoples’ Democratic Party were crucial in forming an agreement to alternate presidential powers between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
Bearing these considerations in mind, Akume said the meeting held by the late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma in Kaduna brought together key political figures who debated the future of the state and the need for balanced arrangements in national leadership.
According to him, discussions took place intensely until finally a consensus was reached.
“That was a tough argument before the issue of presidential rotation was agreed upon. In the end we had to give in. We have to do this.
“The cancellation of June 12 complicated everything. Finally it was agreed that we would alternate between North and South.
“Atiku was one of the leaders in the meeting held by Chairman Solomon Lar. He was part of the agreement,” Akume was quoted as saying.
He noted that the rotation arrangement emerged as a political solution designed to address the tensions resulting from the cancellation of the elections and to reassure other regions of their position within the Nigerian federation.
Akume’s remarks come at a time when the debate over a rotation of power has resurfaced ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku Abubakar, currently the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, is expected to challenge President Bola Tinubu, who was elected in 2023 after the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-term term.
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Atiku’s political opponents often question his continued presidential ambitions, arguing that the spirit of power rotation favors South Korea’s ability to retain 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 the election honestly. The election was canceled by the military government. It was very painful because the people spoke, and they spoke freely. They made their own choice,” he said.
He emphasized that the events of 1993 underscored the importance of respecting the mandate of the electorate in any democratic system.
“The first lesson, the people’s voice must always take priority, it must be sacred. That is the beauty of democracy. We prefer voting to bullets,” he said.
The SGF expressed confidence that Nigeria’s democratic institutions had developed significantly since the June 12 era, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission, which he said understood the consequences of ignoring the mandate of the people.
“If the election is carried out very fairly, and someone wins, there is no problem. The actors in the Independent General Election Commission are not young people, they were adults when this happened.
“If we had a vote at that time, more than two-thirds of Nigerians would condemn the annulment act,” he said.
Akume further commended the leadership of INEC, and stressed that those entrusted with administering the current elections are committed to protecting democratic values and ensuring that such incidents do not happen again.
“Fortunately for us, the people at INEC are men of honor and integrity. They are well-read and patriotic Nigerians, and they are determined to make a difference. Nothing like this will ever happen again in this country.
“You win, you win. When you lose, come back and prepare for the next election. Look at America’s example. President Trump lost to Joe Biden. He didn’t bring America down. He came 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 country’s commitment to constitutional governance and civil liberties.
“We have decided to embrace democracy. Therefore, for 27 years without stopping we have enjoyed this freedom in a democratic atmosphere. We love the values and morals of democracy, and there is no system as beautiful as democracy,” he said.
Highlighting freedom of expression as one of the greatest benefits of democracy, Akume argued that citizens enjoy freedoms that are often absent in authoritarian systems.
“Under a democratic system, you can insult your president and insult anyone and still sleep, and you won’t get knocked in the middle of the night. Try that under a totalitarian regime,” he said.
He closed his speech by urging politicians, institutions and society to remain committed to democratic ideals, respect the election results and continue to strengthen the culture of peaceful political participation that has underpinned the country’s democratic journey for nearly three decades.
