Former Nigerian leader, Ibrahim Babangida, has confirmed in his autobiography that MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election. He described the annulment as his toughest decision. Babangida praised Buhari for honoring Abiola posthumously with the GCFR title, acknowledging his rightful place in Nigeria’s history.
Former Nigerian military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has publicly acknowledged that Chief Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election. This revelation, detailed in his newly released autobiography A Journey in Service, marks one of the most direct confirmations of the election’s outcome from the former leader.
The book, launched in Abuja, features a review by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who conveyed Babangida’s admission. According to the ex-military ruler, Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), met all constitutional requirements to be declared president, securing both the majority vote and the required geographical spread.
“There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements,” Babangida wrote.
However, he described the annulment of the election as the most difficult decision of his career. The controversial move, which sparked nationwide protests and deepened Nigeria’s political crisis, led to years of military rule before the country’s eventual transition to democracy in 1999.
Babangida also noted his satisfaction that President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously recognized Abiola by awarding him the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest national honor typically reserved for presidents.
Political analysts see Babangida’s admission as a significant moment in Nigeria’s history, though critics argue it comes too late. Many Nigerians still view the annulment as a setback for democracy, with Abiola’s subsequent detention and death remaining a dark chapter in the nation's past.
