According to IBB, Abiola was the winner of the June 12th election

 



The June 12, 1993 presidential election was won by BasHorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, according to Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).

 

The June 12 election has caused a lot of controversy with different parties narrating different accounts of the events.

 

DailyTrust reports that in his autobiography, 'A Journey in Service', which was launched in Abuja on Thursday, February 20, the former Nigerian leader said he was convinced that Abiola won.

 

The book was reviewed by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was Nigeria's immediate past Vice President, and this is what he said.

 

    “He also answers the question of whether Abiola actually won the June 12 election, and I quote him, ‘although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”

 

According to the former Vice-President, IBB stated that if given another chance, he would handle the June 12 election events differently.

 

Abiola, a candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the election that was deemed to be Nigeria's most free, faced Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).

 

The results of the election were trickling in when the military regime ordered the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) under the leadership of late Professor Humphrey Nwosu to halt the exercise.

 

In his book, Babangida was quoted to have said he was happy that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged Abiola and honoured him with the greatest national title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).