Nigerians Concluded Their Votes Don’t Count After June 12 Annulment – Durotoye

June 12 Annulment Had a Devastating Impact on Nigeria’s Trajectory – Fela Durotoye

LAGOS, Feb 23 (Naija247news) – Former presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye, has described the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election by former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, as a turning point that deeply affected Nigeria’s democratic progress and voter behavior.

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television, Durotoye emphasized that the annulment planted the belief among Nigerians that their votes do not count, leading to a culture of electoral apathy.

Impact on Electoral Participation

“The past does not shape the future; it only shapes the present. It is now that matters,” Durotoye stated. “One of the most devastating things that we didn’t realize was that it was that particular moment when people concluded that ‘our votes don’t count.’ That annulment embedded this mindset into the consciousness of Nigerians.”

According to Durotoye, this perception has led to a drastic reduction in voter turnout over the years. He noted that in the 2023 general elections, despite 93 million registered voters, only 23 million votes were counted, including “manufactured and manipulated votes,” leaving 70 million eligible voters disenfranchised.

“The danger of ‘my votes don’t count’ is that the majority has become the minority,” he added.

Durotoye categorized votes into four types – mobilized votes, monetized votes, manufactured votes, and manipulated votes – arguing that these have been used by political elites to control election outcomes.

Babangida Admits Abiola Won the June 12 Election

Durotoye’s remarks come days after former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida admitted in his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida, that Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the 1993 presidential election.

Babangida, who had previously denied Abiola’s victory, stated in his book that “upon further reflection and a closer examination of all available facts,” Abiola satisfied the constitutional requirements for victory, securing 8,128,720 votes against Bashir Tofa’s 5,848,247 votes with a geographical spread that met the electoral criteria.

He, however, justified the annulment, claiming it was done in “extreme national interest.”

Public Reaction and Political Discourse

Babangida’s revelation has reignited discussions on the impact of the annulment on Nigeria’s democracy, with many questioning the long-term consequences of the decision. While some have commended his admission, others argue that it is a late acknowledgment of a grave injustice against democracy.

For Durotoye, the real issue remains voter apathy and the need for Nigerians to reclaim their electoral power. “Even with all the manufactured and manipulated votes, the majority of Nigerians still did not vote. That’s the real challenge we must address,” he said.

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Reporting by Babatunde Akinsola in Lagos, Nigeria.