The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has said that Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance demonstrate that Nigerians prefer ballots to bullets.
Akume stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during a news conference held ahead of the 2026 Democracy Day celebration. The event was themed: “27 Years of Uninterrupted Democratic Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Achievements and the Road Ahead.”
According to the SGF, one of the major lessons of Nigeria’s democratic journey is that the voice of the people must remain supreme and sacrosanct.
“The lesson is clear. The voice of the people must always be supreme. That is the beauty of democracy. We prefer the ballot to bullets,” he said.
Akume recalled the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections, and won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
He described the annulment by the military government as painful and unjustifiable, noting that Nigerians had freely expressed their choice at the polls.
“There was no basis whatsoever for the cancellation of that election,” Akume said.
The SGF further stated that the fallout from the June 12 annulment influenced political leaders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to adopt a power-sharing arrangement between the North and South.
“It was finally agreed that power would alternate between the North and the South. In the North, eight years; in the South, eight years; and back to the North,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Democracy Day provides an opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey, celebrate the resilience of its institutions, and honour the sacrifices of pro-democracy activists.
He paid tribute to the late MKO Abiola and other Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, who played significant roles in the struggle for democratic governance.
According to Idris, Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule is a milestone worthy of celebration and a testament to the determination of Nigerians to uphold democratic values and strengthen national institutions.
He added that this year’s Democracy Day celebration is particularly significant as it coincides with the third anniversary of President Tinubu’s 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 commitment to building a stronger and more inclusive Nigeria,” the minister said.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Edited by: Deborah Yakub
