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June 12 was formerly known as Chief MKO Abiola’s Day, celebrated in Lagos, Nigeria and some southwestern States of the country.
However, on June 12, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred the posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief Abiola and declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
May 29 was initially the official democracy day in Nigeria, marking when the newly elected Olusegun Obasanjo took office as the President of Nigeria in 1999, ending multiple decades of military rule that began in 1966 and had been interrupted only by a brief period of democracy from 1979 to 1983.
Nigeria’s Democracy Day is a public holiday to commemorate the restoration of democracy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Here are 12 highlights of June 12, Democracy Day in Nigeria
- The election held on June 12, 1993, was adjudged the most peaceful and fair election in Nigeria’s history.
- It was the first election after the coup that toppled the civilian government of President Shehu Shagari in 1983.
- The election adopted the Option A4, which involved voters queuing behind their preferred candidate.
- Two main parties participated in the June 12 election. They were the Social Democratic Party and the National Republican Convention.
- While Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola flew the flag of the SDP, Bashir Tofa was the candidate of the NRC.
- The result of the election was never officially announced. The election was annulled by the then Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.
- MKO was presumed the winner of the election.
- On June 10, 1994, MKO declared himself president at Epetedo, Lagos Island.
- He was arrested and charged with treason.
- On July 7, 1998, Chief Abiola died as he was about to be released from incarceration.
- Abiola’s wife, Kudirat was assassinated on June 6, 1996 in Lagos.
- June 12, 2019, the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) conferred the posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola and declared June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Happy Democracy Day Nigeria!