After 32 years of denial, former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also known as IBB, has publicly admitted that Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Babangida regretted the annulment, acclaimed as one of the fairest in Nigerian electoral history.
At the launch of his autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” in Abuja on Thursday, the former dictator took full responsibility for the cancellation, acknowledging that mistakes were made during his watch.
He admitted that Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, scored the highest votes at the polls.
He said: “I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility for the decisions taken and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, missteps happened in quick successions.”
Babangida’s autobiography also sheds light on the events surrounding the annulment.
According to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who reviewed the book, Babangida stated that he was happy with ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to acknowledge Abiola’s victory and honor him with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic title.
Osinbajo said: “He 9IBB) also answers the question whether Abiola actually won the June 12 election, and I quote him, ‘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 was a pivotal moment in Nigerian history, marking a rare instance of Nigerians uniting across ethnic and regional lines to elect a president.
Abiola’s victory was widely recognized, but the election was annulled by Babangida’s regime, sparking widespread protests and unrest.
Babangida’s regret over the annulment is a significant acknowledgement of the harm caused by his actions.
However, it also raises questions about the motivations behind his decision to annul the election and the legacy of his rule.
