In a stunning revelation, former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has officially confirmed that the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola was the rightful winner of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election.
This admission comes from Babangida’s newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, unveiled at a high-profile event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, which doubled as a fundraiser for the IBB Presidential Library.
Babangida, in the book, acknowledges that Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, not only secured the majority of votes but also met the constitutional requirement of geographical spread across Nigeria’s states. “There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements,” Babangida writes, referencing detailed election results included as an appendix in the book. These figures show Abiola clinched 8.1 million votes against Bashir Tofa’s 5.8 million, winning one-third of the votes in 28 states, including Abuja.
The former military leader, however, expressed deep regret over the annulment of the election, describing it as the “most difficult decision” of his career and a “most regrettable incident” in Nigeria’s history. He accepted full responsibility for the annulment, which he said disrupted the country’s transition to civilian rule. “As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch, and June 12 happened under my watch,” Babangida stated during the launch, attended by prominent figures including President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, and ex-Ghanaian President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo.
Babangida revealed that formidable forces, including then-Chief of Defence Staff General Sani Abacha, orchestrated the annulment against his initial intent. He recounted how, on June 23, 1993, while attending a funeral in Katsina, he learned the election had been annulled without his prior approval—an act he described as alarming and orchestrated by “nefarious inside forces.” Abacha later seized power in a November 1993 coup, becoming Nigeria’s military head of state.
Reflecting on his decision-making at the time, Babangida admitted to fearing that Abiola’s presidency could have led to his assassination by the same forces opposing him, potentially triggering a civil war. “I was petrified that if Abiola got killed, it could lead to a civil war. Having participated in one civil war, I wasn’t prepared to see another,” he explained. Despite this, he conceded that denying Abiola’s mandate subverted the will of Nigerians, a mistake he now deeply regrets. “If I had to do it all over, I would do it differently,” he wrote.
The book also details the chaotic prelude to the annulment, including a last-minute injunction by the Association to Better Nigeria (ABN), led by Arthur Nzeribe, to stop the election—granted controversially by Justice Bassey Ikpeme on June 10, 1993. Babangida denied supporting ABN’s actions, though he admitted Nzeribe’s closeness to him. He overruled the injunction after a tense National Defence and Security Council meeting, allowing the election to proceed, only for the results to be halted and later annulled under Abacha’s influence.
Babangida took solace in the posthumous recognition of Abiola by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who awarded him the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) title, reserved for heads of state. “I am gratified that the Buhari administration finally recognised MKO Abiola as a former head of state,” he said.
At the launch, President Tinubu hailed the event as a historic moment, expressing gratitude for witnessing it 32 years after Babangida’s tenure. He urged African leaders to unite against economic, security, and social challenges, drawing lessons from global events. “What is happening in America and Europe is a wake-up call. It is time to put our house in order and make Africa a better place,” Tinubu said, pledging to lead Nigeria toward progress.
Former President Obasanjo, who chaired the event, praised Babangida for documenting history but warned of inevitable criticism. Addo Akufo-Addo, in his keynote address, decried the resurgence of military coups in West Africa, advocating multi-party democracy. Goodluck Jonathan noted that Nigeria’s history would be incomplete without Babangida’s story.
The book, reviewed by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, offers a candid look at Babangida’s reforms, challenges, and the June 12 saga, blending hindsight with accountability. “Hindsight may not always be 20:20, but it can be helpful in understanding what went wrong,” Babangida reflects.
