Senate endorses June 12 as Democracy Day

MKO Abiola

If the bill House of Representatives passed seeking to legalise June 12 of every year as Democracy Day in Nigeria is assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, May 29 celebrated as Democracy Day since 2000 will cease to be so marked.

It also means that June 12 of every year will replace May 29 as Democracy Day in the country if the bill is signed by President Buhari.

The upper chamber has concurred with the House of Representatives on the bill already.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, in June 2018, as a way to immortalise late Chief M.K.O Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day.

To give the Presidential declaration necessary legal backing, Hon Edward Pwajok (APC Plateau) and Hon. Kayode Oladele (APC Lagos), sponsored a bill to that effect in the House of Representatives last year.

The bill passed third reading in in the House in March this year.

The bill passed by the House in March, sought for an Act to amend the Public Holidays Act to declare June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria in view of current realities and exigencies of the modern time.

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