I Won the 1999 Presidential Election with Over 1 Million Votes, Not Obasanjo – Olu Falae

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a stunning revelation on Arise TV’s Morning Show, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and 1999 presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, has alleged that he won the election that restored Nigeria to civilian rule, not Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to Falae, a meticulous assessment of the vote tallies by his legal counsel, the late Chief J.O.K. Ajayi, revealed that he defeated Obasanjo by a margin exceeding one million votes.

Falae stated, “I was told by my lawyer, the late Chief JOK Ajayi, that I won the election by over a million votes after a meticulous assessment of the figures declared.”

Falae claimed that he and his team decided not to challenge the results in court, prioritizing the country’s peaceful transition to democracy over personal interests. “We were more concerned about the country returning to democracy peacefully after years of military rule,” he explained.

I was told by my lawyer, the late Chief JOK Ajayi, that I won the election by over a million votes after a meticulous assessment of the figures declared

The 1999 elections were widely seen as a product of compromise, aimed at pacifying aggrieved regions, particularly the South-West, following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election won by MKO Abiola. Falae’s candidacy was backed by two major opposition parties, while Obasanjo emerged as the PDP’s candidate with backing from the political establishment and military elite.

Falae emphasized that his revelation is not about personal vindication but about revealing the truth behind Nigeria’s democratic history. “It’s not about me. It’s about the truth. Nigeria deserves to know the real story behind its so-called democratic rebirth,” he said.

The elder statesman also expressed regret that Nigeria has not had a credible election since 1993, noting that while democracy has been sustained, the conduct of elections remains a significant challenge.

It’s not about me. It’s about the truth. Nigeria deserves to know the real story behind its so-called democratic rebirth

Falae’s statement has reopened an old political wound from Nigeria’s transitional period, sparking debates about the country’s democratic history and the need for truth and accountability.