In a revelation that challenges one of the most pivotal moments in Nigeria’s democratic history, former presidential candidate and elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, has boldly declared that he—not Olusegun Obasanjo—was the rightful winner of the 1999 presidential election.
Speaking during a special Democracy Day edition of The Morning Show on Arise Television, the former All Peoples Party (APP)/Alliance for Democracy (AD) flag bearer accused powerful political forces of rigging the election results to install Obasanjo as president.
“My lawyer, the late Chief J.O.K. Ajayi, reviewed all the results declared by INEC and concluded that I actually defeated Obasanjo by over one million votes,” Falae stated, igniting shockwaves across political circles.
The 1999 polls marked Nigeria’s return to civilian rule after decades of military dictatorship, with Obasanjo, running under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declared winner and sworn in on May 29 of that year. But according to Falae, what Nigerians celebrated as a democratic rebirth was, in reality, a stolen mandate.
Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Minister of Finance, noted that despite the glaring irregularities and the evidence at their disposal, his legal team opted against pursuing a lengthy legal battle—hoping instead to preserve national stability during a fragile transition.
“We chose not to drag the country through a prolonged court case, but that does not change the truth. The figures were doctored, and the result was fraudulent,” he said.
While international observers at the time cited concerns about logistics and transparency, many still considered the election a necessary compromise to end military rule. However, with this latest bombshell, Falae has reopened a painful chapter—raising doubts about the democratic foundation on which the Fourth Republic was built.
As Nigeria reflects on 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the veteran politician’s claim is expected to reignite debate and deepen scrutiny on the very beginning of the current political era.