After nearly 32 years of silence, former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) opened up the role he played in annulling the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.
The June 12, 1993 election, adjudged as freest and fairest in the history of the country was between Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) declared the results in only 14 states before the regime of IBB annulled the exercise.
The annulment threw the entire nation into one of the worst political crises, causing untold hardships, across the nation and claiming the lives of the major political actors, at that time.
However, on Thursday, IBB finally admitted that Moshood Abiola won the Presidential Election while launching his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service in Abuja.
The former military ruler noted that while the annulment of the election remained a defining moment in his career, he took solace in the fact that former President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously honoured Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic title, a recognition reserved for Nigerian presidents.
The book, which offers insights into key moments in the country’s history, also addresses other national controversies, including the 1976 coup attempt that led to the assassination of then-Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, and the 1986 letter bomb that killed investigative journalist, Dele Giwa.
Reflecting on his decision to annul the June 12 election, widely regarded as the most credible in the country’s history, Babangida admitted that if given another chance, he would have handled the situation differently.
He said, “Undoubtedly credible, free and fair elections were held in June, on June 12, 1993.
“However, the tragic irony of history remains that the administration that devised a near-perfect electoral system and conducted those near-perfect elections could not complete the process.
“That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my impression of regret.
“As a leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch.”
He added, “And June 12 happened under my watch, mistakes, oversights and missteps happened in quick succession, but I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in the supreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive”
Meanwhile, Babangida who dedicated a chapter of the book to discuss the June 12 saga, included a detailed result of the election.
According to the result published by Babangida, Tofa got a total of 5,952,087 (41.88%) of votes nationwide while Abiola, scored 8,259,209 (58.12%). The total votes cast was 14,211,296.
Below is the full results of the June 12 election released by Babangida:
1. Abuja (FCT)
Tofa 18,313
Abiola 19,968
2. Abia
Tofa 151,227
Abiola 105,273
3. Adamawa
Tofa 167,239
Abiola 140,875
4. Akwa Ibom
Tofa 199,342
Abiola 214,787
5. Anambra
Tofa 159,258
Abiola 212,024
6. Bauchi
Tofa 524,836
Abiola 339,339
7. Benue
Tofa 186,302
Abiola 264,830
8. Borno
Tofa 128,684
Abiola 153,496
9. Cross River
Tofa 153,452
Abiola 189,303
10. Delta
Tofa 145,001
Abiola 327,277
11. Edo
Tofa 103,572
Abiola 205,407
12. Enugu
Tofa 284,050
Abiola 263,101
13. Imo
Tofa 195,836
Abiola 159,350
14. Jigawa
Tofa 89,836
Abiola 138,552
15. Kaduna
Tofa 356,860
Abiola 389,713
16. Kano
Tofa 154,809
Abiola 169,619
17. Katsina
Tofa 271,077
Abiola 171,162
18. Kebbi
Tofa 144,808
Abiola 70,219
19. Kogi
Tofa 265,732
Abiola 222,760
20. Kwara
Tofa 80,209
Abiola 272,270
21. Lagos
Tofa 149,432
Abiola 883,865
22. Niger
Tofa 221,437
Abiola 136,350
23. Ogun
Tofa 59,246
Abiola 425,725
24. Ondo
Tofa 162,994
Abiola 883,024
25. Osun
Tofa 72,068
Abiola 365,266
26. Oyo
Tofa 105,788
Abiola 536,011
27. Plateau
Tofa 259,394
Abiola 417,565
28. Rivers
Tofa 640,973
Abiola 370,578
29. Sokoto
Tofa 372,250
Abiola 97,726
30. Taraba
Tofa 64,001
Abiola 101,887
31. Yobe
Tofa 64,061
Abiola 11,887
