The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among the political leaders who agreed to the adoption of a rotational presidency in Nigeria following the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Akume made the disclosure on Tuesday while responding to questions at a World Press Conference in Abuja held as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 27th Democracy Day anniversary.
The SGF’s remarks come amid renewed political debate over the zoning of the presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections, following Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to Akume, the decision to alternate presidential power between the North and South was reached after extensive deliberations by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the aftermath of the June 12 annulment, which plunged the nation into a political crisis.
He recalled that a crucial meeting convened in Kaduna under the leadership of the late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma considered the issue of power-sharing as a means of preserving national unity and democratic stability.
“It was a tough argument before the issue of rotational presidency was agreed upon. In the end, we had to concede. We must do this. The June 12 annulment had complicated the whole situation. It was finally agreed that we would alternate between the North and the South,” Akume said.
“Atiku was one of the leaders at that meeting, which was convened by Chief Solomon Lar. He was part of that agreement.”
The SGF explained that the adoption of rotational presidency was designed to address the political consequences of the annulled election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and to foster inclusiveness and national cohesion.
Reflecting on the significance of June 12, Akume described the annulment of the election as one of the most painful episodes in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
“Abiola won that election roundly and convincingly. That election was annulled by the military government. It was very painful because the people spoke freely and made their choice,” he stated.
He stressed that one of the key lessons from the June 12 experience is the supremacy of the people’s will in a democratic system.
“The first lesson is that the voice of the people must always be supreme; it must be sacrosanct. That is the beauty of democracy. We prefer the ballot to bullets,” he said.
Akume also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the country has learnt valuable lessons from the events surrounding the annulment and would never allow such a situation to recur.
“If an election is conducted fairly and someone wins, there should be no problem. The actors at INEC are not young people; they were adults when this happened. More than two-thirds of Nigerians condemned that act of annulment.
“Fortunately for us, those at INEC are men and women of honour and integrity. They are patriotic Nigerians determined to make a difference. Never again will such a thing happen in this country. If you win, you win. If you lose, go back and prepare for another election,” he said.
Drawing parallels with democratic practices in other countries, Akume cited the example of the United States, noting that electoral defeat should not threaten national stability.
He urged political actors to respect electoral outcomes and continue strengthening Nigeria’s democratic culture through peaceful participation and adherence to the rule of law.
According to him, Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance demonstrate the country’s commitment to democratic values, freedom of expression and political inclusion.
“We have decided to embrace democracy. That is why, for 27 unbroken years, we have enjoyed this freedom in a democratic setting. We cherish the values and principles of democracy, and there is no system as beautiful as democracy,” he said.
The SGF added that democracy guarantees citizens the freedom to express their opinions without fear of repression, unlike authoritarian systems.
He called on Nigerians to remain committed to democratic ideals and work collectively towards consolidating the gains achieved since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
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