Former presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, has said the essence of June 12 and the sacrifices made by Nigerians in the struggle for democracy would only be meaningful if the country conducts a free, fair and credible election in 2027.
Onochie made the remarks in a Democracy Day message shared on Friday through her verified social media accounts, where she reflected on the significance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and called for greater commitment to democratic principles.
Describing June 12 as “the day Nigeria voted and democracy was betrayed,” Onochie said the election remains one of the defining moments in the nation’s democratic history.
According to her, the June 12, 1993 presidential election was the first held after the military coup that ended the Second Republic in 1983 and remains widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history.
She said the election demonstrated the unity of Nigerians across ethnic, religious and regional lines as citizens voted in pursuit of a better future.
“For many Nigerians, June 12 is not just a date. It is a wound, a memory, a symbol of hope, sacrifice and the unfinished struggle for justice,” she stated.
Recalling her personal experience, Onochie noted that the election was the first in which she participated as a voter and said she joined millions of Nigerians with the belief that their votes would count.
She maintained that the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola emerged as the clear winner of the election and represented the hopes of Nigerians for democratic governance, unity and national progress.
However, she lamented that the election was annulled, a development she said plunged the country into years of political uncertainty, protests and national pain.
According to her, many Nigerians who demanded the restoration of the mandate suffered repression, while others lost their freedom and lives.
She further stated that Abiola paid the ultimate sacrifice in his pursuit of the mandate freely given to him by Nigerians, noting that he died in detention in 1998 without assuming the office.
Onochie said despite the events that followed, the spirit of June 12 endured and became a symbol of democratic resistance and the demand for accountability.
She commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for officially recognising June 12 as Democracy Day in 2018 and honouring Abiola’s role in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
She said the recognition represented national acknowledgement of the significance of the election and the aspirations of Nigerians.
Onochie stressed that June 12 should continue to serve as a reminder that democracy must be protected and that the people’s mandate should never be undermined.
Addressing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, she said Nigerians expect nothing less than free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
“June 12 is not merely a date in our calendar. It is the day Nigeria spoke with one voice and a reminder that the will of the people must always prevail,” she stated.
She congratulated Nigerians on Democracy Day and urged citizens to remain committed to democratic values.
