June 12: Atiku Was Part of Power Rotation Agreement — SGF Akume

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has disclosed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among the political leaders who supported the adoption of rotational presidency in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Akume made the statement on Tuesday during a World Press Conference in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 27th Democracy Day celebration.

According to the SGF, the decision to alternate presidential power between the North and the South emerged from extensive consultations among leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the aftermath of the annulled election, which was won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.

He recalled that a meeting of PDP leaders, convened in Kaduna by the late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, deliberated on how to address the political tensions created by the annulment and preserve national unity.

Akume said the discussions were intense before participants eventually agreed that rotating power between the North and South would help strengthen national cohesion and address concerns arising from the June 12 crisis.

“Atiku was one of the leaders at that meeting. He was part of the agreement on rotational presidency,” the SGF stated.

Reflecting on the significance of the June 12 election, Akume described its annulment as a painful chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that the election remains widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the country’s history.

He emphasized that one of the key lessons from the experience is the need to respect the will of the electorate and uphold democratic principles.

“The voice of the people must always remain supreme. Democracy thrives when citizens freely choose their leaders and those choices are respected,” he said.

Akume also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that the country has evolved significantly since 1993 and is unlikely to witness a repeat of such an annulment.

He urged politicians and stakeholders to embrace democratic values, accept electoral outcomes in good faith, and continue working toward strengthening the nation’s democratic culture.

The SGF noted that Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule reflect the country’s commitment to freedom of expression, the rule of law, peaceful political participation, and constitutional governance.