Abacha-Led Forces Annulled June 12 Without My Authority — Babangida Breaks Silence After Three Decades
Three decades after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has revealed his version of events in his newly launched memoir, “A Journey in Service”, published by Bookcraft Ltd.
In the memoir, Babangida disclosed that he was in Katsina when the election’s annulment — which denied victory to Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — was unexpectedly announced by Nduka Irabor, the press secretary of his deputy, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu. According to Babangida, the declaration was made without his knowledge or authorization.
He later discovered that the forces behind the annulment were led by General Sani Abacha, then Chief of Defence Staff, who would later seize power from the interim government of Ernest Shonekan in November 1993 and detain Abiola for declaring himself president.
The Road to Annulment: Judicial Intrigues and Military Divide
Babangida traced the genesis of the crisis to June 10, 1993, when the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), led by Arthur Nzeribe, obtained an injunction from Justice Bassey Ikpeme of the Abuja High Court, halting the elections. Despite NEC Chairman Professor Humphrey Nwosu’s insistence on proceeding, Babangida faced internal resistance from top military officers, including Abacha and Lt-General Joshua Dogonyaro. However, backed by Chief of Army Staff Lt-General Salihu Ibrahim, Babangida ultimately authorized Nwosu to proceed with the election as scheduled on June 12.
Voting took place peacefully, but on June 16, Nwosu abruptly suspended the announcement of results without Babangida’s prior knowledge or approval. This, Babangida suspected, was the work of “fifth columnists” within his administration. Another injunction from Justice Saleh’s court in Abuja soon followed, forbidding the release of the election results.
“I Was Outflanked” — Babangida on Abacha’s Coup Within the Military
On June 23, while Babangida was in Katsina to console the Yar’Adua family over the passing of their patriarch, Musa Yar’Adua, reports reached him that the election had been annulled. The announcement, delivered by Irabor in a brief statement lacking official seals or government letterheads, alarmed Babangida.
“Annulment was only one option among others discussed, but to have it announced without my consent was, to put it mildly, alarming,” Babangida wrote. “I would later find out that the ‘forces’ led by General Sani Abacha annulled the elections. From that moment, I knew I was caught between ‘a devil and the deep blue sea.’”
Babangida admitted that while he did not authorize the annulment, he takes ultimate responsibility for the events that transpired, acknowledging the painful and lasting impact of June 12 on Nigeria’s democratic journey.
The memoir, which was unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, offers a rare glimpse into one of Nigeria’s most controversial political episodes, shedding new light on the internal power struggles that shaped the nation’s history.
