Why I Annulled June 12 Election, Stopped MKO Abiola — Babangida

Related stories

Breakdown as FAAC Disburses N1.818 Trillion in June 2025 

• FG Receives Lion share By Abiola Olawale The Federation Account...

2027: Osun Senator, Fadeyi Dumps PDP, Amid Adeleke’s Defection Speculations

By Abiola Olawale Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, the lawmaker representing Osun...

Ranked: The 40 Countries With the Best Culture and Heritage

Greece is the best country in the world known...

EFCC Probing 18 Sitting Governors in Major Corruption Crackdown, Olukoyede Reveals

Reveals ex-governor Arrested in UK for spraying Money By...

Natasha Vows to Return to Senate Tuesday, Despite Akpabio’s Appeal

By Abiola Olawale Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has...

Former Nigerian head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has claimed that he annulled the June 12, 1993 election to save Nigeria.

According to him, there would have been a deadly coup d’etat if the election had materialized.

The military regime of Babangida had been in power prior to the June 12 election as Nigerians yearned for democratic government after decades of military rule.

Late billionaire, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), is widely believed to have won the June 12 election.

However, the winner of the election was not declared as Babangida annulled the election, citing issues of vote buying, and several other electoral irregularities, even as the election has been widely declared as the most fair and transparent election ever conducted in the country’s history, with record voter’s turn-out on that historic day.

Speaking on Arise TV, Babangida stated that he had to handle the situation carefully, adding that the result of the election would have cause instability in the country.

In his words, “If it materialized [If the election had gone through], there would have been a coup d’etat which could have been violent. That is all I can confirm.

“It didn’t happen, thank God for the Maradonic way we handled you guys in the society.”

He added that the election “could have given room for more instability in the country.”

Asked further if he was pressured by the military or civilians to annul the election, Babangida said: “Both.”

“Both, the Military, they can do it because they have the weapons to do it. The other is the social agitation.”

Abiola Olawale
Abiola Olawale
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Breakdown as FAAC Disburses N1.818 Trillion in June 2025 2027: Osun Senator, Fadeyi Dumps PDP, Amid Adeleke's Defection SpeculationsRanked: The 40 Countries With the Best Culture and HeritageEFCC Probing 18 Sitting Governors in Major Corruption Crackdown, Olukoyede RevealsNatasha Vows to Return to Senate Tuesday, Despite Akpabio's AppealPresidency, ADC in War of Words Over BuhariPresidency, ADC in War of Words Over Buhari(VIDEO) Gambari Weighs in on Buhari's Legacy, Says History Will Be Kind to Him2027: Osun Senator, Fadeyi Dumps PDP, Amid Adeleke's Defection SpeculationsEFCC Probing 18 Sitting Governors in Major Corruption Crackdown, Olukoyede RevealsDrama as Okpebholo Tells Peter Obi: Notify me Before Visiting Edo or Else I Can't Guarantee Your SecurityTrump Vows to Sue Rupert Murdoch as Epstein Report Opens New Rift in Their RelationshipTinubu Names IBB’s Son, Top Experts to Lead Key Nigerian Agencies2027: Labour Party Appoints Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairperson Alleged $9.6 Billion P&ID Fraud: Fleeing Briton’s Surety Arrested, Produced In Court
X whatsapp