During the speech declaring his presidential ambition, IBB commented on the annulment of the June 12 elections: "Severally and with great remorse too, I have taken responsibility as a true leader for the actions and decisions of the military regime that I led. The annulment of the June 12 election is one of the ugly spots one has to live with. It was a collective decision taken after series of consultations with several stakeholders. [..] I know that a day will come when Nigerians will forgive our regime because we are a godly nation that embraces the culture of forgiveness"