MKO Abiola won controversial June 12 election – IBB finally confirms
MKO Abiola won controversial June 12 election – IBB finally confirms
In his newly released memoir, ‘A Journey in Service’, former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has confirmed that the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the controversial June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Babangida’s candid admission came during the book’s launch in Abuja on Thursday, as his autobiography, reviewed by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, shed new light on the events surrounding the historic poll.
According to the account, Babangida, who had initially cast doubt on Abiola’s victory, now acknowledges that Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, secured both the highest number of votes and the necessary geographical spread to emerge as the rightful president.
Osinbajo said: “He 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.”
In his memoir, Babangida reflected on the events of the June 12 election, admitting that, given the opportunity, he would have handled the situation differently. The former Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, quoted Babangida as expressing this regret during the book’s presentation.
Babangida also expressed satisfaction that former President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously recognized MKO Abiola’s rightful victory by conferring upon him the nation’s highest honor, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
Abiola, representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), faced off against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in what is widely considered Nigeria’s freest election.
However, as results began to pour in, the military government abruptly intervened, instructing the National Electoral Commission (NEC), led by Professor Humphrey Nwosu, to halt the announcement of the election results.
