June 12 Election: IBB Reflects On Annulment As His Toughest Decision, Acknowledges MKO Abiola’s Victory

FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA – Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), has openly revisited his decision to annul the June 12, 1993 presidential election, acknowledging for the first time that the late Chief MKO Abiola was the rightful winner of the poll.

In a candid admission, Babangida described the annulment as the most difficult decision of his life, reflecting on the deep personal and political consequences it carried.

This revelation came during the launch of his autobiography, “A Journey in Service”, in Abuja on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

The book’s reviewer, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, shared Babangida’s words, which stated that Abiola, who ran under the banner of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), met all the constitutional criteria necessary to be declared the legitimate winner.

This included securing the majority of votes and the required geographical spread across Nigeria.

“There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements,” Babangida affirmed.

He also expressed his appreciation for former President Muhammadu Buhari’s posthumous recognition of Abiola, awarding him the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) title, an honour typically reserved for sitting Nigerian presidents.

Despite the lasting impact of the annulment on his legacy, Babangida found solace in this formal acknowledgment of Abiola’s rightful place in Nigeria’s political history.