The Federal Government today declared June 12 of every year as Democracy Day in Nigeria.

By this latest declaration which came 18 years after the June 12, 1993 Presidential election won by late Moshood Abiola but annulled by the military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, the 29 May earlier observed as Democracy Day had been replaced.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who made the declaration in a signed statement, stated the significance of June 12, 1993 in the nation’s political history.

The Presidential election of June 12, 1993 was globally acknowledged as the freest and fairest in the annals of the nation’s democratic experience till date.

In recognition of late Abiola’s supreme sacrifice on democracy, the Federal Government also conferred on him posthumously the highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR.

The government also conferred the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger, GCON, on late Abiola’s running mate in the 1993 annulled election, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, bags a

Similarly, the late lawyer and human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi, who fought tirelessly for the validation of the June 12 election result was also honoured posthumously with a GCON.