By Huldah Shado
Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the 1999 presidential candidate, has reignited debate over Nigeria’s return to civilian rule, insisting he not Olusegun Obasanjo, won the 1999 presidential election.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show during a special Democracy Day programme on Thursday, Falae claimed that the results of the election were manipulated in favour of Obasanjo.
According to him, a detailed review of the declared results by his legal counsel, the late Chief JOK Ajayi, showed that he outpolled Obasanjo by over a million votes.
“My lawyer, the late Chief JOK Ajayi, informed me that I won the election by over a million votes after a thorough analysis of the figures declared,” Falae said. “But we chose not to contest the outcome. Our focus was on ensuring a peaceful transition to democracy after prolonged military rule.”
Falae’s assertion revisits the fragile aftermath of Nigeria’s transition following the death of General Sani Abacha.
He recalled the immense pressure at the time to accept the result without protest, which he did for the sake of national peace.
“This is not about me,” he said. “It’s about the truth. Nigeria deserves to know the authentic story behind its so-called democratic rebirth.”
Falae further lamented that Nigeria has not conducted a truly credible election since 1993. While democracy has remained in place since 1999, he noted that the integrity of electoral processes continues to be a major concern.
He called for respect for the sacrifices made to restore democracy, adding that the real story of the 1999 election must be acknowledged for the sake of historical truth and national healing.
