The Presidency has strongly dismissed recent claims by former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of supporting the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.

In a televised interview, Lamido alleged that Tinubu only gained political prominence after the formation of the pro-democracy group, NADECO, and claimed that Tinubu’s late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mobilised market women in favour of the annulment. The Presidency described these statements as “a distortion of history and a regrettable attempt at revisionism.”

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency stated categorically that Alhaja Mogaji never supported the annulment and could not have retained her influential position as market leader in Lagos if she had. While she did have a relationship with then-military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida, Onanuga noted that it predated the annulment crisis.

The statement also took aim at Lamido’s own record during the June 12 crisis. As the then National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the party under which MKO Abiola won the election, Lamido, along with party chairman Chief Tony Anenih, was accused of failing to resist the military’s decision to annul the results. “To their eternal shame,” the statement said, “Lamido and Anenih joined forces with the defeated National Republican Convention (NRC) to deny Abiola his mandate.”

Contrasting this with Tinubu’s record, the Presidency recounted how the then-Senator from Lagos West vocally condemned the annulment on the floor of the Senate. On August 19, 1993, Tinubu reportedly described the annulment as “another coup d’état” and called on Nigerians to reject military injustice and lawlessness.

Tinubu’s opposition to the annulment, according to the statement, was unwavering. He continued to resist the military government even after General Sani Abacha’s seizure of power on November 17, 1993, which led to the dissolution of democratic institutions. Tinubu, along with other senators, reconvened in Lagos in defiance of the junta and was arrested, detained, and later charged under trumped-up allegations. While in detention, Tinubu allegedly continued to support pro-democracy protests, including the blockade of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The Presidency further recalled Tinubu’s involvement in the formation of NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) on May 15, 1994. The group became a central platform in the fight against military rule, demanding that Abacha step down in favour of the democratically elected Abiola. Following Abiola’s arrest on June 22, 1994, Tinubu went into exile for nearly five years, during which time his residence in Lagos was bombed by agents of the Abacha regime.

While Lamido acknowledged Tinubu’s participation in NADECO, the Presidency stressed that Tinubu went further by supporting other resistance movements, such as NALICON, led by Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.

“Many leaders of the NADECO struggle and journalists in exile have openly credited Tinubu with sustaining the pro-democracy campaign through financial and logistical support,” the statement read.

Onanuga described Lamido’s narrative as confused and politically motivated, warning him against “revisionism” that could distort Nigeria’s democratic history. He further suggested that Lamido’s attacks might stem from envy of President Tinubu’s democratic legacy.

“We do not want to believe that Alhaji Lamido suffers from what psychologists call ‘tall poppy syndrome,’ but his actions increasingly suggest envy,” Onanuga said. “The facts remain clear: President Tinubu was—and remains—a steadfast advocate for democracy, unlike those who capitulated under military pressure.”

The Presidency urged Lamido to verify his facts and desist from spreading what it described as deliberate falsehoods, adding that such statements undermine national memory and the sacrifices made for democracy.