June 12 Commemoration: Ekiti ARG Urges Citizens to Vote for Peace, Progress

By Joseph Sunday

The Afenifere Renewal Group, Ekiti State Chapter, has joined the Yoruba Nation in commemorating June 12, 1993 — a watershed in Nigeria’s democratic journey. Each year, Ekiti State marks this historic date. This year’s observance will be solemn, held in solidarity with communities recently affected by bandit attacks in our region.

The above statement was made public through the State Coordinator of the Ekiti State Chapter of the Afenifere Renewal Group, Chief Bunmi Akanbi Awotiku.

The 1993 presidential election remains widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll. On that day, Nigerians rose above ethnicity, religion, nepotism and bigotry. That mandate was truncated when the military regime led by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida annulled the results.

The struggle to reverse that decision claimed many lives. We remember martyrs including Pa Abraham Adesanya, Pa Alfred Rewane, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, and countless others who paid the ultimate price for democracy.

We also honor the sacrifices of those who led the pro-democracy movement: our National Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun; former Ekiti State Governor Dr. John Kayode Fayemi; and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Their resolve and personal sacrifice helped birth the democratic dispensation we enjoy today.

In the spirit of June 12, we encourage all Ekiti residents to come out peacefully on June 20, 2026, and vote for peace, progress and prosperity.

We have observed Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s alignment with The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria. The Afenifere Renewal Group supports his efforts to position Ekiti as a model state.

We call on residents and the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure every vote counts. Acts of thuggery and vandalisation of electoral materials undermine our democracy and must be firmly discouraged.

We urge all citizens to turn out and vote peacefully.