Babangida Reveals New Details on June 12 Election Annulment

Abuja, Nigeria – Former military President General Ibrahim Babangida has made a groundbreaking revelation, admitting that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll.

In his newly released autobiography, A Journey in Service, launched in Abuja on February 20, 2025, Babangida disclosed that the annulment of the election was carried out by forces led by the late General Sani Abacha, who was his Chief of Defence Staff at the time. According to him, the decision to nullify the election was taken without his approval, contrary to previous narratives that he personally orchestrated the move.

“I regret that the election, which reflected the will of Nigerians, was overturned due to pressures beyond my control. Abacha and his group took over the process in a manner I did not anticipate,” Babangida stated in the book.


President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Babangida for his courage and patriotism, describing the admission as a significant step towards national healing and reconciliation. In a statement from the State House, Tinubu emphasized that acknowledging Abiola’s victory affirms the struggle for democracy that many Nigerians fought for.

The June 12, 1993 election, won by MKO Abiola, was annulled under controversial circumstances, leading to nationwide protests, political unrest, and the eventual continuation of military rule until 1999. Abiola was later arrested after declaring himself president and died in detention in 1998 under suspicious circumstances.

Babangida’s revelation has sparked fresh debates about Nigeria’s democratic history, with analysts calling for a deeper probe into the circumstances surrounding Abiola’s annulled mandate. Some political observers believe this disclosure could lead to further discussions on posthumous recognition for Abiola and other pro-democracy activists.

As the nation reflects on this historic admission, many are asking: Will Babangida’s statement lead to any official action or remain just another chapter in Nigeria’s political history?