How I Defeated Bola Ige In 1999 To Get AD’s Presidential Ticket — Olu Falae
How I Defeated Bola Ige In 1999 To Get AD’s Presidential Ticket — Olu Falae
According to a report by Nigerian Tribune, on Saturday March 21, 2026, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, has explained how he won the Alliance for Democracy (AD) presidential ticket in 1999, defeating the late Bola Ige.
Falae shared the story in excerpts from his autobiography titled The Triumph of Grace and described the contest as tough but rewarding.
According to him, the process started when Afenifere set up a 23-member committee to choose a consensus candidate for the AD and APP alliance, the committee included governors, party leaders, and elders from the South-West and parts of North-Central Nigeria.
Falae said he was not fully comfortable with how the committee was formed and claimed he was not informed early and had no input in its structure. Despite this, he decided to go ahead with the race.
Both candidates paid a nomination fee of N500,000, Falae said he quickly submitted his payment, while Ige also paid.
To secure support, Falae said he visited each committee member personally and explained that he held meetings with key political figures and elders to present his ideas and plans for Nigeria.
During his campaign, he highlighted his experience in public service and finance, he answered questions on governance and development from influential leaders.
Falae said he even reached out to people believed to support Ige, according to him, this was to show respect and ensure no one felt ignored
He compared his efforts with Ige’s approach, he said Ige travelled abroad during a crucial period and did not actively campaign, possibly because he was confident of victory.
“While I was approaching members of the panel with arguments and logic. I learnt that Chief Bola Ige was away in London. He did not campaign at all, presumably because he was sure of victory. The day before the D-Rovans meeting, I went to Ibadan, to be as close as possible to the venue of the meeting, because the meeting was very important to me,” he said.
