The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen George Akume, says the 27-year celebration of uninterrupted democratic governance in the country has demonstrated that Nigerians prefer ballots to bullets.
Akume stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday on the benefits and lessons of the Democracy Day celebrations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2026 news conference on Democracy Day celebrations was themed “27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria: challenges, achievements and the roads ahead”.
The SGF said that the lesson of the Democracy Day celebration demonstrated that the voice of the people must always be supreme and sacrosanct.
“The lesson first is that the voice of the people must always be supreme. It must be sacrosanct. That’s the beauty of democracy. The lesson is so clear. We prefer the ballot to bullets,” he said.
Akume decried the annulment of the presidential election conducted in Nigeria, where two presidential candidates, Chief MKO Abiola and Alhaji Bashiru Tofa, contested on June 12, 1993.
“Incidentally, I also participated very actively in that election. That election was adjudged to have been free, fair, and very credible, and the election was said to have been won, and I believe rightly too, by Chief MKO Abiola.
Maybe powers that be did not want him to be declared the winner, but collation had been done in most states of the country, including Kano State, where Bashir Tofa came from. There too, Abiola won.
“That election was annulled by the military government. It was very painful because the people spoke and they spoke freely. They made their own choice.
“There was no basis whatsoever for the cancellation of that election,” Akume said.
He said that the lesson learnt from the annulment of June 12 led the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to agree that power should thenceforth be alternating between the North and the South.
“June 12 (election) annulment had complicated the whole thing. It was finally agreed that we would be alternating between the North and the South.
“And basically, that is why any time I talk about this, I try to emphasise this issue of rotation. In the North, we’ll do eight years; in the South, eight years; in the North, eight years,” he said.
In his remarks, the minister of information and national orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said the news conference was organised to commemorate Nigeria’s 27th Democracy Day and the third anniversary of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Idris said: “Democracy Day occupies a unique place in our national calendar.
“It provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our democratic journey, celebrate the resilience of our institutions and honour the sacrifices of patriots who stood firm in the struggle for democratic governance.
“As we gather today, we pay tribute to the memory and enduring legacy of Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, whose commitment to democratic ideals remains an inspiration to generations of Nigerians.
“We also acknowledge the many Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who played significant roles in the pro-democracy movement and contributed to the restoration of democratic rule in our country,” he stated.
According to the minister, 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance is a milestone worthy of celebration.
“It is a testament to the determination of Nigerians to uphold democratic values, strengthen national institutions and continuously strive for a more prosperous and united nation.
“This year’s Democracy Day celebration is particularly significant, as it coincides with the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Administration.
“It offers an opportunity to take stock of our progress as a nation, review the impact of ongoing reforms and reaffirm our collective commitment to building a stronger and more inclusive Nigeria,” the minister added. (NAN)
