Atiku backed rotational presidency after June 12 annulment - SGF

George Akume, Nigeria's Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has asserted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among the political leaders who backed the adoption of rotational presidency in Nigeria. This principle emerged in the aftermath of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

Akume detailed that the annulment of the election prompted political leaders to make difficult decisions to preserve national unity and strengthen democracy. He recalled meetings where leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, including Abubakar, debated the country's political future, with power rotation becoming a prominent issue. "It was a tough argument before the issue of rotational presidency was agreed on. At the end, we had to concede. We must do this. June 12 annulment had complicated the whole thing. It was finally agreed that we’ll be alternating between North and South," Akume stated.

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It was a tough argument before the issue of rotational presidency was agreed on. At the end, we had to concede. We must do this. June 12 annulment had complicated the whole thing. It was finally agreed that we’ll be alternating between North and South.

He explained that the decision to alternate presidential power between the North and South was designed to address the political fallout from the annulled election and promote inclusivity and national cohesion. Akume described the annulment as a painful setback for Nigeria's democratic aspirations, emphasizing that the people's voice must be supreme. "The first lesson is that the voice of the people must always be supreme; it must be sacrosanct. That’s the beauty of democracy. We prefer the ballot to bullets," he added.

Akume expressed confidence in Nigeria's democratic institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, believing the country has learned from the 1993 experience and will prevent similar annulments. He noted that at the time of the annulment, over two-thirds of Nigerians would have condemned the act.

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The first lesson is that the voice of the people must always be supreme; it must be sacrosanct. That’s the beauty of democracy. We prefer the ballot to bullets.