Human rights lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to rename the Abuja headquarters of Nigeria’s electoral body after the late Chief MKO Abiola, describing it as a symbolic tribute to the man widely regarded as the face of Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle.
Speaking at a June 12 Democracy Dialogue held in Lagos, Dr. Shittu said naming the INEC headquarters “MKO Abiola House” would serve as a national reminder of the value of credible elections and the sacrifices made to secure democratic governance.
He also called on the federal government to release any outstanding benefits owed to Abiola’s family, arguing that doing so would offer some measure of justice following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, an injustice he described as a historic wrong.
“The annulment of the June 12 election was not just a betrayal of the people’s will, it deeply wounded Abiola’s family. It’s time to do what’s right,” he said.
Dr. Shittu further cricriticised Nigeria’s current political structure, labeling it as transactional and elitist. He warned that unless the country adopts a people-led constitution, democratic values will remain compromised by power politics and corruption.
“We need a constitution created by the people, not imposed by the military. What we currently practise is democracy by purchase and patronage, not by principles,” he added.
The event, which took place both online and offline, also featured voices from civil society and academia, including Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Idika Kalu, and other members of The Patriots.
Dr. Kalu stressed that despite national challenges, Nigerians must protect the country’s unity and continue pushing for democratic growth. He called for resilience and collective action in confronting those undermining Nigeria’s progress.
Prof. Utomi, reflecting on decades of activism, expressed frustration that the vision many fought for remains unfulfilled. Still, he encouraged citizens not to abandon the dream of a better Nigeria.
“We hoped for greatness. We still haven’t achieved it. But we can’t give up now,” he said.
Other speakers, including Gboyega Adejumo and Mike Omeri, offered contrasting perspectives, with Adejumo declaring there was little to celebrate about June 12, and Omeri emphasising the importance of restructuring and federal unity.
