••Former Military Dictator Reflects on Decision Amid fear of Another Coup Against MKO.
Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has publicly expressed regret over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, acknowledging that he would approach the situation differently if given another opportunity. This admission came during the launch of his autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” in Abuja.
During the event, IBB accepted full responsibility for the cancellation of the election, which was primarily contested between Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He stated, “I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility for the decisions taken and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, missteps happened in quick successions.”
In previous interviews, IBB had defended the annulment, asserting that while the election was recognized as free and fair—arguably the best in Nigeria’s history—the country was not prepared for a transition to democratic governance at that time. He reflected on the potential consequences of handing over power to a civilian government, noting that the political climate was fraught with security threats and the risk of subsequent military coups.
IBB elaborated, “Forget about the wrong things that happened in politics. The issue of security of the nation was a threat… We knew that there would be another coup deta’t.” He indicated that the government had plans for a subsequent election within six months after the annulment but faced significant challenges due to the backlash from the cancellation. He had envisioned conducting another election by November 1993, which ultimately did not materialize due to the political instability that ensued, leading to the establishment of an Interim National Government that was later overthrown by General Sani Abacha.
This recent reflection marks a significant moment in IBB’s narrative regarding his role in Nigeria’s political history, particularly concerning the controversial June 12 election and its lasting impact on the country’s democratic journey.
