By Abiola Olawale
Former military President of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has acknowledged that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the presidential election held on June 12, 1993.
This admission came in Babangida’s autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” launched on February 20, 2025, in Abuja.
Babangida, who annulled the election during his tenure, stated through the book’s reviewer, former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, that Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), secured both the majority of votes and the necessary geographical spread to be declared president as he satisfied the needed requirements.
He described the annulment as the most difficult decision of his life, saying, “There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements.”
Babangida also expressed relief that President Muhammadu Buhari later recognized and documented Abiola’s victory posthumously in 2018 by awarding him the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest honor, and declaring June 12 as Democracy Day.
The New Diplomat reports that the June 12, 1993, election is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, with Abiola defeating Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
Despite this, Babangida annulled the results, citing electoral irregularities and security concerns, a decision that sparked widespread protests and political instability.
This recent revelation aligns with long-standing public belief and unofficial results, which showed Abiola won over 8 million votes across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory, compared to Tofa’s roughly 6 million votes across 10 states.
