The annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial and hotly debated political events. Newly revealed figures, as detailed in former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s (IBB) book, provide a rare glimpse into the electoral landscape of that historic vote. The election, widely regarded as the most transparent in Nigeria’s history, saw the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, and the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, battle for the presidency.
Despite the cancellation of the results by the military government, the numbers offer a compelling insight into the people’s will at the time. Below is a state-by-state breakdown of the election results, as recorded in IBB’s book:
State-by-State Election Results
Key Takeaways from the Results
1. MKO Abiola’s Landslide in the South-West
The election data reaffirms Abiola’s dominance in his home region, the South-West. He secured overwhelming victories in Lagos (883,865 votes), Ondo (883,024 votes), Ogun (425,725 votes), and Oyo (536,011 votes).
2. Tofa’s Stronghold in the North
As a Kano native, Tofa held significant sway in the North, with commanding leads in states such as Bauchi (524,836 votes), Sokoto (372,250 votes), and Rivers (640,973 votes).
3. A Competitive Race in the North-Central and South-East
Abiola outperformed Tofa in North-Central states like Benue (264,830 votes) and Plateau (417,565 votes), but struggled in the South-East, where Tofa led in Abia, Imo, and Enugu.
Despite the clear mandate given to Abiola, the Babangida-led military government controversially annulled the election on June 23, 1993, citing national security concerns. This decision sparked mass protests, leading to a political crisis that eventually forced IBB to step down. The annulment remains a dark stain on Nigeria’s democratic history, with many believing it was a deliberate act to prevent a power shift.
MKO Abiola’s declaration of himself as the rightful winner and his subsequent imprisonment by the Abacha regime further deepened the crisis. His tragic death in detention on July 7, 1998, just before his anticipated release, solidified his status as a martyr of democracy.
A Legacy That Endures
The significance of June 12 in Nigeria’s political evolution cannot be overstated. It was eventually recognized as Democracy Day by the Nigerian government in 2019, a posthumous acknowledgment of Abiola’s sacrifice and the people’s democratic will. The figures revealed in IBB’s memoir not only confirm what many suspected—that Abiola won—but also reignite discussions about the transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with democratic challenges, the lessons of June 12, 1993, remain relevant: the will of the people should never be subverted, and the integrity of elections must be upheld at all costs.
PIONEER NEWS 