• Recounts June 12 struggle
• Says, Abiola won on promise to end poverty, hunger
• Warns, ‘without credible primaries, no credible elections in Nigeria’

By Francis Eke and Hosea Parah 

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, on Tuesday in Abuja reflected on the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, describing it as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election while expressing concern over what he considers a decline in democratic standards in the country.

The human rights lawyer expressed regret that the military junta led by General Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, refused to accept the results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and to hand over power to a civilian administration and but rather choose to annul the election result while it was still being collated.

“From his body language and other activities before the election, we knew that General Babangida wasn’t ready to hand over power to Abiola and when they could not stop Professor Humphrey Nwosu from going ahead with the conduct of the election, they went to court to obtain court order. But that too did not stop the election from holding. Hence, their decision to annul the result before it was officially announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) led by Professor Nwosu”, Falana said

He spoke at the Annual June 12 Commemoration Lecture held in honour of the late former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

Recounting the events that followed the annulment of the election, Falana said the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola secured overwhelming support from Nigerians through a campaign centered on equitable distribution of the nation’s resources and the eradication of poverty.

According to him, Abiola campaigned on the conviction that Nigeria possessed sufficient resources to cater for the needs of its citizens and eliminate poverty. He noted that the late businessman and politician opposed economic policies dictated by international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, insisting that Nigerians should determine how their resources were managed.

Falana lamented what he described as the inability of many political parties to conduct transparent and democratic primaries, arguing that flawed internal party processes often undermine the credibility of general elections.

“Those who cannot conduct credible primaries cannot conduct credible elections,” he said.

Reflecting on the events of June 1993, Falana stated that the election was conducted peacefully and transparently until a court order halted the official announcement of the results. He recalled that leaders of the pro-democracy movement, including the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and associates of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, sought legal advice on whether the already-collated election results could be made public.

After reviewing the legal provisions, Falana said he and his colleagues found no law preventing Nigerians from knowing the outcome of the election.

“We could not find any law that prohibited Nigerians from knowing the results of the election,” he said.

He explained that the decision by pro-democracy activists to publish the results led to the arrest of several campaigners, including himself, adding that they were subsequently charged with unlawful assembly, sabotage and sedition amid widespread protests demanding recognition of Abiola’s mandate.

Falana further disclosed that he and the late activist Chima Ubani were forced to represent themselves and other detainees in court after being denied access to legal counsel. They argued before the court that those responsible for suppressing the election results, rather than pro-democracy activists, should have faced prosecution.

According to Falana, bail application by the pro-democracy activists was rejected, leading to their detention under what he described as harsh prison conditions. Falana also alleged that the military administration of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, resisted calls for their release out of fear that doing so would fuel further nationwide protests.

Despite the repression, Falana said the pro-democracy movement remained resolute in its demand for justice and validation of the June 12 mandate, a struggle that later became a defining chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

The June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, was annulled by the military government headed by General Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, triggering nationwide protests and a prolonged campaign that eventually contributed to the restoration of democratic rule in 1999.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting, protecting and enforcing human rights in Nigeria.

Ojukwu emphasized that democracy and human rights are inseparable, noting that credible elections, adherence to the rule of law, civic participation, freedom of expression, equality and accountable governance remain fundamental pillars of a democratic society.

Speaking on the theme of the lecture, “Electoral Integrity and the Future of Credible Elections in Nigeria,” he described the event as timely and strategic as the country prepares for another electoral cycle ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also highlighted the partnership between the NHRC and the Professor Humphrey Nwosu Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, describing it as a collaboration built on shared democratic values and a commitment to strengthening electoral integrity, democratic accountability and public confidence in national institutions.

Speaking on behalf of the Nwosu family, Engr. Nnaemeka Humphrey Nwosu, Co-founder and President of the Humphrey Nwosu Centre, said the organisation was established to preserve and promote the legacy of the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

According to him, the centre is dedicated to advancing democracy, human rights advocacy, electoral integrity, civic engagement and leadership development through collaboration with institutional partners.

He said the vision of the centre is to build a legacy of integrity, strengthen democratic institutions and uphold the dignity of every individual in Nigeria and across Africa, where democracy thrives, human rights are protected, elections are credible and leaders govern with integrity and justice.

The event featured goodwill messages from prominent Nigerians and colourful cultural dance performances by arts and culture groups, adding significance to the annual commemoration of one of the most important milestones in Nigeria’s democratic history.