Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has publicly admitted that late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, a statement that has been a significant part of Nigeria’s ongoing political discourse for years. Babangida’s revelation came in his newly released autobiography, A Journey in Service, which was launched on Thursday, February 20, in Abuja. This admission marks a historic moment in Nigeria’s political history, given the long-standing controversy surrounding the annulled election.
In his book, Babangida reflected on his initial doubts regarding the election results but acknowledged his change of heart after a more thorough review. According to Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s immediate past Vice President, who reviewed the autobiography, Babangida stated, “Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”
The June 12 election has remained a contentious issue in Nigerian politics, with conflicting accounts of events from various stakeholders. Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was widely regarded as the winner of the election, which was hailed as Nigeria’s freest and fairest at the time. However, the military government under Babangida annulled the election before the results could be fully announced, leading to a political crisis that marked the end of Babangida’s rule.
Abiola’s victory in the election was halted by the military regime’s sudden intervention, ordering the National Electoral Commission (NEC), led by Professor Humphrey Nwosu, to suspend the vote counting process. This decision remains one of the most significant events in Nigeria’s democratic history, fueling widespread protests and political unrest.
In his autobiography, Babangida expressed regret over the handling of the election, admitting that if given another chance, he would have handled the situation differently. The former military leader said, “If I had another opportunity, I would handle the events of June 12 differently.” His reflections in the book offer a rare and personal account of the events surrounding the annulment, shedding light on the complexities of the decision-making process at the time.
Babangida also acknowledged the posthumous recognition of Abiola’s victory by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who awarded Abiola the nation’s highest honor, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), in 2018. The former military leader expressed relief that this acknowledgment had come, stating, “I am happy that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged Abiola and honoured him with the greatest national title of GCFR.”
