The June 12 Story: See What happened That Day

32 years after the annulment of what was tagged the fairest election in Nigeria’s history, lormer military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida has now acknowledged that the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, MKO Abiola, won the June 12, 1993 election.

Babangida, who annulled the election, acknowledged this in the concluding section of the 12th chapter of his autobiography launched on Thursday, 20th of February in Abuja.

In the book titled, ‘A Journey In Service,’ the former leader
expressed regret over the annulment,
describing it as an “accident of history.”

That election which was supposed to be a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic journey, had left many questioning the former military head of state”s integrity.

After years of military rule, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president, hopeful that the country would finally transition to democratic rule, but the election’s outcome was annulled, plunging the country into chaos and uncertainty.

Pre-Election: A Supposed Transition to Democracy

In the late 1980s, Nigeria’s military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, announced plans to transition the country to democratic rule.

As part of this process, Babangida established the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to oversee the electoral process. He also created two new parties: the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC).

The SDP and NRC were designed to be broad-based parties that would appeal to a wide range of Nigerians. The SDP was seen as a more progressive party, while the NRC was viewed as more conservative. Both parties fielded candidates for the presidential election, with Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola emerging as the SDP’s candidate and Bashir Tofa becoming the NRC’s candidate.

June 12 1993 Election: The Very Day

On that day, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the election was widely seen as peaceful and credible, with international observers praising the NEC, headed by Humphrey Nwosu,
for its efficient organization of the process.

Abiola and Tofa campaigned vigorously, with Abiola’s message of hope and change resonating with many Nigerians.

As the votes were counted, it became clear that Abiola was winning. He received over 8 million votes, while Tofa received over 6 million votes. Abiola won 19 states, while Tofa won 10 states.

Aftermath: Annulling the Election

However, despite the peaceful and credible nature of the election, the NEC refused to announce the results. Instead, Babangida annulled the election, citing electoral irregularities, and the annulment sparked widespread outrage and protests across the country.

Nigerians felt that the election had been free and fair, and that Abiola had won convincingly. The annulment was seen as a brazen attempt by Babangida to maintain his grip on power. The protests that followed were violent, with security forces cracking down on demonstrators.

Consequences: Deaths, Exile, and International Condemnation

The annulment of the election had severe consequences for Nigeria as over 100 people were killed during protests against the annulment.

Many Nigerians, including Abiola’s supporters, went into exile. This led to Abiola’s arrest for treason as he went ahead to declare himself as the President on the 11th of June, 1994, which eventually led to his death in prison on the 7th of July, 1998, the day he was due to be released from prison.

And while in prison, his wife, Kudirat Abiola was assassinated on the 4th of June, 1996.

Kudirat spearheaded oil workers’ strike against the government which lasted 12 months.

She also gathered market women, students and civil servants to fight for their electoral right which was denied on June 12, 1993. Her efforts to get her husband out of jail and restore his mandate brought her across the line of Abacha’s military government.

The international community condemned the annulment, with the United Kingdom, United States, and European Union suspending aid to Nigeria.

June 12, The Legacy For Nigeria’s Democracy

Despite the annulment, the June 12 election marked a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic journey. It showed that Nigerians were eager for democratic rule and willing to fight for their rights. The election also marked the beginning of a long and difficult transition to democratic rule.

In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria, recognizing the significance of the election in the country’s democratic journey. Abiola’s victory was also recognized, and he was awarded the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) posthumously.