Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has officially confirmed that the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election, a claim that has been the subject of much debate over the years.
This revelation was made public in Babangida’s newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, during a ceremony in Abuja on Thursday.
The book, reviewed by former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, highlights Babangida’s reflection on the election results.
In the book, Babangida admits that while he had previously questioned Abiola’s victory, upon reviewing the election results more closely, he acknowledged that Abiola had indeed won the election, securing both the majority of votes and the necessary geographical spread to become president.
Osinbajo quoted Babangida, saying, “Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won, upon deeper reflection and closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results published as an appendix to this book, there is no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”
Babangida also expressed regret over the way the events unfolded, stating that, if given another chance, he would have handled the situation surrounding the election differently.
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The former military leader further praised the gesture of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who posthumously honored Abiola with the highest national 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 an election widely regarded as the freest in Nigeria’s history.
However, just as the results were beginning to come in, the military regime ordered the National Electoral Commission (NEC), led by the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, to suspend the process, effectively nullifying the election.
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