June 12: The story behind Nigeria’s Democracy Day
President Bola Tinubu set to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day to mark June 12 anniversary.
June 12 is more than a date on Nigeria’s calendar—it is a symbol of struggle, resilience, and the people’s yearning for true democracy. The events surrounding this day in 1993 altered the course of Nigeria’s political history and planted the seeds for the democratic freedoms the country enjoys today.
On June 12, 1993, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a president in what is widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in the nation’s history. The country, under the military rule of General Ibrahim Babangida, had initiated a transition to civilian governance after years of authoritarian leadership.
Two political parties were created by the government—the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). Business magnate and philanthropist Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola emerged as the SDP’s presidential candidate and faced Bashir Tofa of the NRC.
As results trickled in, it became clear that Abiola had won a decisive mandate from the people. His appeal cut across ethnic and religious lines, with voters from the north and south, Muslims and Christians, rallying behind him. But in a shocking move, the Babangida-led military regime annulled the election before final results were officially declared, citing vague allegations of electoral irregularities.
The annulment sparked national outrage and widespread protests. It also deepened distrust in the military’s sincerity about returning the country to civilian rule. Abiola, who had declared himself the rightful winner, was eventually arrested in 1994 after he declared a mandate to reclaim his presidency. He remained in detention until his death under controversial circumstances on July 7, 1998, just as hopes were rising for a transition to democratic rule following the death of General Sani Abacha.
The return to democracy came in 1999, with the election of President Olusegun Obasanjo. However, the official Democracy Day was initially set for May 29, the date of Obasanjo’s inauguration, rather than June 12. For years, civil society groups, democracy activists, and many Nigerians continued to honour June 12 unofficially, insisting that it represented the true spirit of democratic struggle in the country.
Their advocacy finally bore fruit in 2018 when President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day, replacing May 29. The decision was widely hailed as a long-overdue recognition of MKO Abiola’s sacrifice and the enduring significance of the 1993 elections. Abiola was posthumously awarded the national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), typically reserved for presidents.
Today, June 12 is more than a commemoration—it is a reminder. It reminds Nigerians of a stolen mandate, a fractured promise, and the collective will of a people determined to chart their own political future. It also honours the countless activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens who faced persecution in the fight for democratic restoration.
As Nigeria continues its democratic journey—fraught with challenges of electoral credibility, governance, and accountability—June 12 serves as a call to never forget the price of freedom and the unfinished task of building a truly inclusive, transparent, and just democracy.
