‘If there was another chance!’ IBB Admits MKO Abiola Won June 12, 1993 Election

OwelekeTV (News) Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has acknowledged that late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola emerged victorious in the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The controversial election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, has been the subject of numerous debates over the years.

However, Babangida, in his newly released autobiography titled ‘A Journey in Service’, affirmed Abiola’s victory.

This revelation was highlighted by Nigeria’s immediate past Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who reviewed the book during its launch in Abuja on Thursday.

Osinbajo stated:

“He also answers the question whether Abiola actually won the June 12 election, and I quote him, ‘although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”

Babangida also reflected on the annulment of the election, admitting that if given another opportunity, he would have handled the situation differently.

Chief Abiola, who contested under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), had been leading in the polls against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) when Babangida’s military government ordered the National Electoral Commission (NEC), then chaired by the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, to halt the announcement of results.

In the book, Babangida also expressed satisfaction that former President Muhammadu Buhari officially recognized Abiola’s mandate and posthumously awarded him Nigeria’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).