Thirty-two years after annulling Nigeria’s freest and fairest election, former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida has finally admitted that MKO Abiola won the June 12 election. His newly launched memoir, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida, acknowledges that Abiola met all constitutional requirements to be president.
Why Babangida Annulled the June 12 Election
Despite Abiola’s clear victory, Babangida annulled the election, citing national security concerns. The decision led to widespread protests and political instability. To contain the fallout, he installed an interim government led by Ernest Shonekan, but Sani Abacha overthrew the administration within months, tightening Nigeria’s descent into dictatorship.
MKO Abiola’s Struggle for Democracy
The annulment of the June 12 election remains one of Nigeria’s greatest political injustices. Pro-democracy groups like NADECO and Afenifere fought tirelessly for justice. In 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously recognized MKO Abiola as a former president and declared June 12 as Democracy Day.
Babangida now admits he could have handled things differently. But can this late confession ever undo the damage? MKO Abiola was denied his mandate, imprisoned by Abacha, and died under mysterious circumstances in 1998. His wife, Kudirat Abiola, was also assassinated in 1996.
History Will Remember June 12
Even with Babangida’s admission, many Nigerians still demand full justice for MKO Abiola and the June 12 election. Will his legacy ever be fully restore? We all are aware that Babangida’s confession is a little too little.
