President Muhammadu Buhari has described the annulment of the Jun2 12, 1993 presidential election as “the worst of our leadership”.
This year’s Democracy Day is the last one Buhari will witness as president of the country as his tenure comes to an end next year.
In a televised broadcast to Nigerians on Sunday morning, Buhari promised a legacy of “a free, fair and transparent process” in the 2023 polls to mark the 30th anniversary of the historic election won by MKO Abiola.
The Ibrahim Babangida-led military government had nullified the election, throwing the nation into a prolonged political upheaval that crippled the economy and raised ethnic tensions.
The decision sparked widespread condemnation from Nigerians and international actors, the crisis and pervasive opprobrium engendered by the annulment subsequently forced Babangida to step down as the head of state.
Abiola eventually died in government custody in 1998 after being arrested and detained for trying to reclaim the mandate.
In his address, Buhari said: “On June 12th 1993, Nigerians saw the best in our citizens as we all went out to vote peacefully. By June 24th 1993, we also saw the worst of our leadership as the elections were annulled.”
Nigeria had always celebrated Democracy Day on May 29 since the return to civil rule in 1999 but in 2018, Buhari declared June 12 as a public holiday and the Democracy Day.
The anniversary of the transition to the fourth republic is still marked on May 29.
Read the full speech here