Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s former military president, has finally broken his silence on the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, revealing that Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola was the true winner of the epochal election.
In his memoir, “A Journey in Service,” launched in Abuja, Babangida admitted that Abiola satisfied all the constitutional requirements to be declared president, securing the majority of votes and the necessary geographical spread ¹.
Babangida claimed he was in Katsina when the annulment was announced without his knowledge or permission, and later discovered that Sani Abacha, his chief of defence staff, led the forces against the election.
He expressed regret over the annulment, describing it as his “most regrettable” decision and accepting full responsibility for the actions taken under his watch ¹ ².
The June 12 election was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s fairest, but its annulment sparked widespread protests and unrest.
Babangida’s admission has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising him for telling the truth and others criticizing him for taking so long to admit it.
In a surprising twist, Babangida revealed that he was happy with President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to acknowledge Abiola’s victory and honor him with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic title, reserved for Nigerian president’s.
