Former military dictator, Ibrahim Babagida, has admitted that the late M.K.O Abiola the Social Democratic Party won the June 12, 1993 presidential election which he annulled.
Mr Babagida made the submission in his autobiography presented to the public in Abuja on Thursday.
Quoting Mr Babagida, the book reviewer and former vice president Yemi Osinbajo, said that the former military ruler answered the question on who won the June 12 presidential election, adjudged Nigeria’s fairest and freest election.
Mr Osinbajo said, “He also answers the question on 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.’”
Mr Abiola reportedly defeated Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the election conducted by the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu-led National Electoral Commission. However, Mr Abiola died in detention under former maximum ruler, Sani Abacha, during the struggle to retrieve his mandate.
Mr Babagida, who annulled the election, however, admitted that he would have handled the issue differently and applauded former president Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Mr Abiola with a posthumous GCFR title.
