Ex-military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has revealed that the late Chief Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Babangida took to his autobiography, A Journey in Service, which was officially launched in Abuja on Thursday, to make the confirmation.
During the book launch, former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who reviewed the book, noted that Abiola, who ran under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), not only secured the majority of votes but also met the geographical requirements needed to become president.
Babangida in his autobiography also admitted that annulling the election was one of the most difficult decisions of his life.
“There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements,” he stated.
Babangida also noted in his book that he was pleased when former President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously honoured Abiola with the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a rank reserved for presidents.
This recognition, he said, was a step toward acknowledging the true outcome of the historic election.
Recall that decades after the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, the issue has remained evergreen in the minds of Nigerians and has remained controversial with various analyses into what actually transpired then.
To date, many Nigerians believe that the election was one of the fairest in the country’s history.
When Babangida’s government annulled the election results, it resulted in widespread protests and political instability.
Late Abiola who was the major personality in the eye of the storm continued to push for his mandate, declaring himself the rightful president in 1994.
His struggle eventually led to his arrest and detention by the military regime of General Sani Abacha. He died in detention on July 7, 1998.