“I Regret June 12 Annulment” – IBB

By Gideon Njoku

Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, has said that one of his regrets is the cancelation of the June 12, 1993  Presidential Election.

Chief MKO Abiola, presumably won the election, free, fair and square, but it was inexplicably annulled by the Babangida regime  shortly before the final result was to be announced.

Speaking on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the presentation of his autobiography, “A Journey In Service”, and a fund raising for the IBB Presidential Library, General Babangida  revealed that annulling the June 12 1993 Election which was adjudged free and fair, was the most challenging decision of his life.  Given another chance, he declared, he would have handled it differently.

He confessed that: “Undoubtedly, credible, free and fair elections were held 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 expression of regret. As a leader of the Military Administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch.

“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.”

He, however, expressed relief that former President Muhammadu Buhari honored Abiola, posthumously,  with the highest National Honour in the land – Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, reserved only for Presidents.

Babangida ruled Nigeria from August 15, 1985 -August 15, 1993.