By Francis Nansak 

The Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Sam Mallam, has described the shift of Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 as a move designed to disparage former President Olusegun Obasanjo, rather than an act of good faith.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, Mallam acknowledged that the change was intended to honour NADECO heroes who fought to entrench democracy and to remember the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. However, he argued that the APC-led administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari enacted the change to mock the PDP government under Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007.

“Yes, I see nothing wrong with the new date against the usual celebration of May 29. But the shift, in my view, was an act of mala fide, simply to make a mockery of the PDP-led administration under OBJ,” Mallam said. “My reasoning is not far-fetched because Obasanjo benefited from the struggles of NADECO leaders.”

Despite his criticism of the date change, Mallam maintained that democracy remains superior to military rule. “No matter the inadequacies in democracy, it is still the best and better than military rule. That is why many argue that the substitute for democracy is more democracy, and that is why I personally subscribe to it,” he said.

On insecurity, the APGA chairman said the situation has reached an unprecedented level, with hardly any community able to sleep peacefully. He urged both government and citizens to work together and called on the current administration to restore Nigerians’ confidence in democratic leadership.

“Nigerians are tired of speeches made in the media with claims of being on top of insecurity. The more government makes such claims, the more insurgency rises, making it a recurring decimal,” he said.

Mallam also raised concerns about the 2027 general election, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission of lacking independence. “INEC is too fragile and lacks independent operation. Until the system is tightened, the outcome of our elections will remain the same, full of malpractices and inappropriate certification of winners,” he stated.

The APGA chairman expressed confidence in his party’s prospects in 2027, citing its focus on family development and the dividends of democracy.

He noted strong support for APGA in Nasarawa State following the emergence of candidates from the primaries and said he is sure of victory.