Deborah Akinyosoye
Thirty-two years after the presidential election was annulled, former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida has admitted in his long-awaited autobiography that he was wrong in annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Reports reveal that the election, which he now acknowledges, was won by the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola.
Babangida’s admission was made public on Thursday, during the unveiling of his autobiography titled A Journey in Service; An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida.
NigeriaTodayTimes gathered that the latest development sent ripples through the political landscape, re-opening discussions around one of Nigeria’s most controversial elections.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, where the unveiling was paired with a fundraising ceremony for the IBB Presidential Library, Babangida conceded that Abiola had fulfilled all the constitutional requirements to assume the presidency at the time of the election.
The occasion was attended by all living former Nigerian leaders, with the notable exception of General Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the event.
The book’s reviewer, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo disclosed that Babangida acknowledged in his autobiography that after careful reviews, it became clear that Abiola had won the election.
The former military leader, however, stopped short of explaining why the mandate was not restored to Abiola, a decision that continues to haunt the nation’s history.
The June 12, 1993 election was widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, but Babangida’s annulment of the results led to widespread protests and a deep political crisis.
Babangida, reflecting on his time in office, described the cancellation of the election as the greatest crisis his administration ever faced.
In the book, Babangida also touches on other significant events during his tenure, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) controversy and the tragic Lagos plane crash that claimed the lives of more than 100 military officers.
The former leader’s admission reignites the debate over the legacy of the June 12 election, which has come to symbolize the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.
While many Nigerians, especially from the southern regions, have long hailed Abiola as the rightful winner, the full consequences of the annulment remain a source of national anguish.
Babangida’s unexpected reversal may provide some closure for many, but questions linger about the motivations behind the annulment and the decision not to restore Abiola’s mandate.