June 12: Day democracy died or resurrected, Nigerians react

June 12 is a date synonymous with business mogul and politician Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and his struggle against military rule following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, which denied him the opportunity to become Nigeria’s president. 

The history behind the day can be traced back to the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the fairest and freest election in Nigerian history, with Mr Abiola of the Social Democratic Party and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention as the leading candidates.

According to reports, Mr Abiola was on the verge of being declared the winner of the poll when the military regime led by Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election, which triggered widespread protests, political unrest, and persistent demands for a return to democratic rule. 

In the aftermath of the political turmoil caused by the annulment, Mr Babangida was eventually deposed by another military dictator, Sani Abacha, who ordered the arrest of Mr Abiola after the latter’s Epetedo Declaration in Lagos on June 11, 1994, in which he proclaimed himself the winner of the 1993 election. 

Despite persistent international appeals, including from Pope John Paul II, who during a visit to Nigeria in March 1998 called on Mr Abacha to release dozens of prisoners, which the Los Angeles Times reported included Mr Abiola, the politician, remained in detention until he died five months later at the age of 60. 

By the time he died, Mr Abiola had spent four years in prison under reported inhumane conditions, including torture. Under mysterious circumstances, Mr Abiola suddenly became ill on July 7, a day before he was reportedly set to be released, and passed away later that day. 

During the politician’s detention, June 12 became the rallying point by pro-democracy activists, civil groups, students, journalists and others, across all walks of life, especially the South West region against the military regime. 

One month before the one-year anniversary of Mr Abiola’s death, the military regime under General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over the country’s affairs to a civilian government on May 29, 1999, the initial date for Democracy Day. 

However, in a proclamation in 2018, then-President Muhammadu Buhari moved Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 in honour of Mr Abiola’s sacrifice in the fight for democracy.

Mr Buhari posthumously awarded Mr Abiola with Nigeria’s highest national award, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), traditionally reserved for presidents. 

The Peoples Gazette spoke with public affairs analysts and experts about the importance of continuing to commemorate June 12 in honour of Mr Abiola’s contribution to Nigeria’s democracy. 

While they agreed that marking day matters, the experts restated that the fight for true democracy is far from being over. 

“June 12 teaches us that power is not given, power is taken. The youth of that generation were proactive, not reactive. They had strong beliefs and were ready to stand for something bigger than,” public analyst Akinola Steven stated. “The day is more than a date on our calendar. It is a reminder of the price Nigeria paid to choose democracy over military rule.”

He added, “In 1993, millions of Nigerians from every tribe, religion, and background voted together for MKO Abiola. That election was free, fair, and peaceful. But the result was cancelled. People lost their lives protesting for that mandate. So June 12 matters because it represents the will of the people finally speaking with one voice.

“We still celebrate it today because Nigeria has not finished the work. Democracy is not just voting every four years. It is about accountability, justice, and leaders who serve the people, not themselves. Every June 12, we ask ourselves: Are we living up to the sacrifice made in 1993? Are our elections truly free? Is the government working for the common man?”

Samuel Agbelusi, a political analyst, noted that democracy in the country is still in its infancy, highlighting that the democratic process has suffered setbacks since the return to civilian rule in 1999, while June 12 serves as a day for sober reflection. 

“The significance of June 12 goes beyond politics. Every year, we hold it up and ask ourselves: are we closer to or further from the moment in 1993? Are our elections now free and fair? Are our institutions working and stronger? Are citizens more empowered or more disillusioned? 

“Celebrating June 12 is an annual democratic audit where we have a national moment of consciousness that keeps alive the expectations that Nigeria can and must do better. Nigerian democracy in 2026 is 27 years old, just like the age of a young adult that is still capable of being shaped by the choices we make,” Mr Agbelusi stated.

Rights activist Hassan Taiwo mentioned that June 12 symbolises the day that the population stood against military oppression, but noted that decades later, Nigerians are still suffering similar fates under the so-called civilian government. 

“The day remains a significant day in the history of Nigeria as the day Nigerian working people stood with one voice to say ‘enough is enough’ to military rule. Beyond the question of who won or didn’t, the election itself was a referendum on whether the Nigerian people wanted military rule to continue, and the answer, as shown by the massive turnout on the day, was an overwhelming no.

“However, over three decades after the day, we cannot ignore the fact that real, genuine and representative democracy remains in abeyance as what exists right now can only be described as a civilian capitalist dictatorship,” Mr Taiwo explained. 

Public analyst Liborous Oshoma maintained that it is important for Nigeria to continue commemorating June 12 because history teaches people about the past. 

He also explained that the date was not mainly about the election held that day, but about the fact that Mr Abiola stood and fought for his mandate. 

“The history of the world is the biography of great men. The deed of people is actually the history of the world. If we talk about today, the democracy that we are celebrating, there is a certain person who is believed to have paid the price for that struggle.

“June 12 is not necessarily because of the election that was conducted on that day, but the fact that some persons, Abiola, who is presumed the winner, stood his ground and insisted on claiming his mandate,” Mr Oshoma said. 

The lawyer, however, contended that the significance of June 12 has been reduced to just a mere day, stating, “The problem is the fact that people are no longer taught the value of standing together, insisting that democracy must strive. These are the ideologies behind June 12, not the election conducted by Prof Humphrey Nwosu.”

Adeyeye Olorunfemi of the Take it Back Movement, however, pointed out that the date marks the day democracy died in Nigeria because of Mr Babaginda’s decision to truncate the people’s choice by annulling the 1993 election. 

According to him, Mr Babaginda represents the ruling class, who are still in charge of the country today. 

“I am not speaking for the ruling class, who just changed the date so that they can celebrate democracy. I am speaking for the masses, our people who should see it as a significant date when democracy died because we should consider it quite ironic that the ruling class changed May 29 to June 12 to celebrate Democracy Day on a day that democracy died itself,” Mr Olorunfemi noted. “The significance of June 12 and the aftermath of the annulment show the spirit of resistance. Many people died, many fought, and many were imprisoned for that.”