Nearly 32 years after annulling Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, has publicly expressed deep regret over the decision for the first time. Speaking at the launch of his autobiography, A Journey in Service, and his presidential library in Abuja, Babangida acknowledged that the election was the freest, fairest, and most credible in Nigeria’s history.
The event, held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, was attended by an array of prominent figures, including President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as ex-Heads of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. Former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo delivered the keynote address, adding an international dimension to the gathering.
As expected, the atmosphere at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where the event took place, was abuzz with an air of anticipation as dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond gathered for the official unveiling of the long-awaited autobiography.
The hall was adorned with elegant decorations, reflecting the significance of the occasion.
Distinguished guests, including President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, and ex-Heads of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, gracing the occasion.
The historic event was further enriched by the attendance of international figures, such as former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, who delivered the keynote address.
Conversations filled the room, with attendees reminiscing pivotal moments in Nigeria’s history and discussing the insights anticipated from Babangida’s memoir. The event was not only a reflection on the past but also a convergence of thoughts on the nation’s future, as leaders engaged in meaningful dialogue.
But beyond the moment, which offered a window into the life and times of one of Nigeria’s most influential figures, the impact of Babangida’s actions and inactions had resonated beyond three decades, reshaping Nigeria’s political, economic, and, even, international standing.
The annulment of the election – widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history – was a seismic event that sent shockwaves through the nation’s political and social landscape. It was a moment that altered the course of Nigeria’s democracy, plunging the country into uncertainty, unrest, and a prolonged struggle for civilian rule.
In a rare display of national unity in 1993, setting aside ethnic and religious divisions, Nigerians elected Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, as their president. Hope filled the air, the dawn of a new democratic era seemed imminent, and the people believed that their voices had finally been heard.
But when the military government under Babangida abruptly annulled the results, that hope was replaced by outrage, confusion, and a sense of betrayal. From Lagos to Kano, and other key parts of the country, protests erupted.
Civil society groups, pro-democracy activists, and ordinary Nigerians demanded the restoration of Abiola’s mandate and in the weeks and months that followed, Nigeria teetered on the edge of chaos. The press came under siege, opposition voices were silenced, and the military tightened its grip, leading to a dark era of political repression.
The annulment also set off a chain reaction that would haunt Nigeria for years. Babangida’s hurried exit from power left a leadership vacuum, eventually leading to the dictatorship of Gen. Sani Abacha, whose reign was marked by brutal crackdowns and widespread human rights abuses.
The country, once on the cusp of democratic stability, found itself ensnared in a web of authoritarian rule. Abiola himself was arrested after declaring himself the rightful president, and he would later die in detention under suspicious circumstances. His wife was brutally shot.
But after decades-long silence on the events leading up to the annulment, the former Nigerian leader opened up yesterday, spilling the beans, as it were, and chronicled the happenings that led to the now infamous cancellation of the election.
He said, “Undoubtedly credible, free and fair elections were held on June 12, 1993. However, the tragic irony of history remains that the administration that devised a near perfect electoral system and conducted those near perfect elections could not complete the process.
“That accident of history is most regrettable; the nation is entitled to expect my impression of regret.
“As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch. And June 12 happened under my watch.
“Mistakes and oversights happened in quick succession. And I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in the supreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive.
“Our nation’s march to democracy was interrupted, a fact that I deeply regret, but Nigeria survived and democracy is still alive, a testament to resilience and commitment to progress.
“This book is part of my personal story of what was national history. I did not travel alone. I undertake the challenging walk of leadership in the company of many patriots.”
Babangida said his eight-year administration confronted monumental challenges, and admitted that the reforms introduced by his administration also caused discomfort to Nigerians.
According to him, “I have had to contend with these questions all the time. When will you tell your side of the story? Understandably, our period of service is somehow evoked and rightly so, many questions and stories among our public.
“This book, which chronicles my experiences, decisions and challenges during our national service, tries to answer some of these questions from my modest perspective.
“My colleagues in arms and I presided over significant change and turbulent reforms. We confronted monumental challenges in the economy, the polity, foreign affairs and defence and security of our national life.
“We surmounted obstacles so as to change from the old ways. We encountered unusual obstacles and devised innovative solutions.
“We all thought to leave Nigeria a better place, and we found it after a great personal sacrifice, and in the face of significant challenges.
“I’m deeply aware of the inconveniences and sacrifices the public endure during this period. And I acknowledge and appreciate their resilience and commitment to progress.
“Although the reforms caused inconveniences to our people, we built lasting national institutions, some of which are still in place today.”
In his revealing memoir, Babangida said forces led by his Chief of Defence Staff, General Sani Abacha, annulled the June 12 election without his authority.
Babangida disclosed that he was in Katsina when the annulment of the election, won by Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was announced by the press secretary to his second-in-command, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, without his knowledge or permission.
On June 23, Babangida said he left Abuja for Katsina to commiserate with the Yar’Adua family over the death of their patriarch, Musa Yar’Adua, former Minister of Lagos Affairs and father of Umaru, the late Nigerian president who died in office in 2007.
In the words of Babangida, “The funeral had taken place, and as I got ready to leave, a report filtered to me that the June 12 elections had been annulled.
“Even more bizarre was the extent of the annulment because it terminated all court proceedings regarding the June 12 elections, repealed all the decrees governing the transition and even suspended NEC!
“Equally weird was the shabby way the statement was couched and made.
“Admiral (Augustus) Aikhomu’s press secretary, Nduka Irabor, had read out a terse, poorly worded statement from a scrap of paper, which bore neither the presidential seal nor the official letterhead of the government, annulling the June 12 presidential elections. I was alarmed and horrified.
“Yes, during the stalemate that followed the termination of the results announcement, the possibility of annulment that could lead to fresh elections was loosely broached in passing. But annulment was only a component of a series of other options. But to suddenly have an announcement made without my authority was, to put it mildly, alarming.
“I remember saying: ‘These nefarious ‘inside’ forces opposed to the elections have outflanked me!’ I would later find out that the ‘forces’ led by General Sani Abacha annulled the elections. There and then, I knew I was caught between ‘a devil and the deep blue sea’!! From then on, the June 12 elections took on a painful twist for which, as I will show later, I regrettably take responsibility.”
In the wake of the crisis, Babangida stepped down as president in August 1993 and installed an interim government, led by Ernest Shonekan, which Abacha would remove from power in November 1993.
Abacha later clamped Abiola into detention for declaring himself president.
Babangida, who did a national broadcast on June 24, 1993 to officially announce the annulment of the election, in his memoir, said Abacha had become a major force in a “factionalised” military and it was difficult to remove him when he stepped down from power.
The journey to the June 12 annulment began two days to D-Day, when a judge granted an injunction stopping the electoral commission from going ahead with the election. A group known as Association to Better Nigeria (ABN), led by Senator Arthur Nzeribe, had filed the lawsuit.
Babangida admitted in the memoir, published by Bookcraft Ltd., that Nzeribe was close to him, but denied supporting the activities of ABN.
He stated in the memoir, “From out of nowhere, on June 10, two days before the presidential election, the same shadowy group, ABN, which had been campaigning for an extension of military rule, approached the Abuja High Court of Justice Bassey Ikpeme for an injunction to stop NEC (National Electoral Commission) from conducting the elections.
“Unknown to me at the time, Justice Ikpeme, who was relatively young at the Bench, had worked in the chambers of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Clement Akpamgbo. Strangely, Justice Ikpeme, in the dead of night, in clear violation of Decree 13, which barred any court from interfering with NEC’s conduct or scheduling of the elections, granted the ABN an injunction stopping NEC from conducting the June 12 elections. There was confusion everywhere.”
Babangida said he quickly convened an emergency meeting of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), the country’s highest governing body, to discuss the way forward.
His words, “On Friday, June 11, as the NDSC meeting was going on, I learned that a Lagos High Court had ruled that NEC should go ahead with the elections. The NDSC meeting on Friday, June 11, only hours before the scheduled elections, was one of the stormiest meetings I ever conducted as President.
“Strangely, the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Akpamgbo, who was the nation’s chief law officer and who ought to know that the Justice Ikpeme court order violated an extant law (and was tacitly supported, it turned out, by some of my topmost military officers), advised that the elections be postponed in compliance with the Abuja court order. Professor (Humphrey) Nwosu (NEC chairman) insisted, to the dismay of my top military colleagues, that he had enough powers under the law to proceed with the elections.
“The arguments went on for hours in a tense atmosphere, peopled by some who wanted the elections postponed, among them the Chief of Defence Staff, General Sani Abacha, Lt-General Joshua Dogonyaro, and a few Service Chiefs.
“But I had my views bottled inside me! Even before Professor Nwosu presented his compelling argument, I decided that the elections should proceed, backed firmly by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Salihu Ibrahim.”
Babangida said he looked across the room where the meeting was taking place and said to Nwosu, “Go ahead with the elections. Go to your office, hold a world press conference and tell everyone the elections will be held tomorrow as planned.”
The former military president said on June 16, Nwosu suddenly stopped the announcement of the election results even though the voting was peaceful and orderly.
Babangida wrote, “And then, on June 16, without my knowledge or prior approval, NEC Chairman, Professor Nwosu, announced the suspension of the June 12 election results ‘until further notice’.
“I knew instantly that certain fifth columnists were at work and that there was a need for extra care! And even after that suspension of the announcements of results, ABN obtained another ‘strange’ court order from Justice Saleh’s court in Abuja, stopping the release of the results of the elections.”
He wrote in the book, “Although I am on record to have stated after the elections that Abiola may not have won the elections, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all the available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this volume, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.
“Upon closer examination of the original collated figures from the 110,000 polling booths nationwide, it was clear that he satisfied the two main constitutional requirements for winning the presidential elections, mainly majority votes and geographical spread, having obtained 8,128,720 votes against Tofa’s 5,848,247 votes and securing the mandatory one-third of the votes cast in 28 states of the federation, including Abuja.
“Unfortunately, the forces gathered against him after the June 12 elections were so formidable that I was convinced that if he became president, he would be quickly eliminated by the same very forces who pretended to be his friends.
“While I accept that the unfortunate denial of his mandate amounted to a subversion of the will of the Nigerian people, I was petrified that if Abiola got killed, it could lead to a civil war.
“Having participated in one civil war, with all its horrors, pains and devastation, I wasn’t prepared to see another.
“I am gratified that the Buhari administration finally recognised MKO Abiola as a ‘former head of state’.”
Babangida described the annulment as a shocking and regrettable moment in Nigeria’s history.
He revealed that the annulment of the election also nearly cost him his life.
Narrating the theories that emerged over the annulment, Babangida wrote, “Tensions in the country were compounded by baseless conspiracy theories meant to justify the annulment. One such theory was that Abiola had pencilled down a list of top military officers to be dismissed upon assuming office as president.
“Another conspiracy theory was that the government had let the June 12 elections go ahead in the knowledge, based on security reports, that Tofa would win. However, once Abiola won, the government sought a way to frustrate his mandate.
“These were spurious theories circulated by those opposed to an Abiola presidency. Some persons, indeed, expressed their reservations about an Abiola presidency before the elections.
“There were times when, deep down inside me, even I feared that Abiola might not be an effective president. However, having allowed the process to go ahead in which Abiola appeared to have emerged victorious in an election deemed the freest and fairest in our country’s history, I was committed to ensuring that the results should stand. To do otherwise would amount to a subversion of the will of the Nigerian people.
“But I also knew we were dealing with a delicate situation that could lead to national disintegration.
“The military was factionalised into rival groups between those opposed to the transition to civil rule, particularly an Abiola presidency, and those who thought the military should keep its word and hand over to a democratically elected government.
“The military was awash with rumours of plots by those who wanted to depose me to have Abiola installed and those who wanted to take me out violently to ensure that the annulment stayed.
“There were rumours of a third group, made up of sworn and implacable enemies of Abiola, a hard-line faction, who threatened that Abiola could only be president over their dead bodies! And if it meant taking me out violently to effect their threat, they were willing to do so.
“It was painful for me to discover later that apart from Abacha, some of my closest colleagues, particularly a Lt-General, were knee-deep in the plot to eliminate me.
“The only reason those disparate forces did not strike against me was that it was feared, and rightly so, that since I still enjoyed the support of a sizable proportion of the armed forces, any attack on the government or my person would lead to a bloodbath.
“The polarisation within the military was so fraught with danger that the best I could do in the circumstance was to project a united front as government in the face of the stiff opposition I faced as President.
“Although the annulment took all by surprise, as Commander-in-Chief, I took responsibility for it. In my speech on June 26, tepid and disingenuous as it may seem, I attempted to justify the annulment in the face of supposed nationwide widespread electoral malpractices’ during the elections! What mattered at the time to me as President and Commander-in-Chief was the unity of the army and my conviction that if the army was united, it could safeguard the country from disintegration.
“After several brainstorming sessions with various groups, I contacted M.K.O Abiola to find a way forward. At one of my several meetings with Abiola, arranged this time by some traditional leaders, I offered Abiola an interim position pending when we could resolve the situation.
“Not surprisingly, Abiola turned down my offer. How could anyone blame him? Since he was convinced that he had won the elections that the annulment had denied him, it seemed overtly inappropriate to accept an interim arrangement.
“For him, it was a matter of once bitten, twice shy! At another meeting, this time a more private meeting of both families, I articulated that our lives were in danger of being snuffed out by lurking forces that wished both of us ill.
“Unfortunately, Abiola turned his back on any form of rapprochement with me and embraced the gimmicks of deceitful ‘friends’ who hid their real intentions from him.
“I read somewhere, I believe, in one of Abiola’s newspapers that Abiola thought that the moment these ‘friends’ overthrew me, the elections would be de-annulled and that he would.