Former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has admitted that Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
IBB made this revelation during the launch of his autobiography, A Journey In Service, in Abuja on Thursday. Babangida, who annulled the election, had previously cast doubt on Abiola’s victory, a decision that triggered nationwide protests and unrest.
In the 420-page book, Babangida dedicated a section to Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democracy, shedding light on the June 12 saga.
During the book review, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo read an excerpt detailing the events surrounding the election and its annulment. He quoted IBB as saying that while he had previously questioned Abiola’s victory, a deeper reflection and examination of the election results led him to acknowledge Abiola as the rightful winner.
“Although I had once suggested that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a close review of all available facts—particularly the detailed election results published as an appendix to this book—it became clear that MKO Abiola won,” Osinbajo read.
The book further states that the original collated figures from 110 polling booths confirmed Abiola’s victory, as he secured 8,128,720 votes against Bashir Tofa’s 5,847,247, meeting the constitutional requirements of both majority votes and geographical spread.
IBB also expressed his satisfaction that the Buhari administration posthumously recognized Abiola as a former head of state.
“Looking back, the June 12 saga was the most challenging and, in many ways, one of the most painful moments of my life. If given another chance, I would handle it differently,” he wrote.
