Nigeria Democracy Day

This is a national public holiday in the country. It marks the day the military handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous civilian rule since Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule in 1960. It used to be celebrated on 29th May, marking the day when the newly elected Olusegun Obasanjo took office as President of Nigeria in 1999. On 6th June 2018, the President Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria declared 12th June to be the new Democracy Day. This was done to commemorate the democratic election of MKO Abiola on 12th June 1993, in what was adjudged to be Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections.