June 12, 1993, was supposed to be a historic day for Nigeria. It was the day that Nigerians voted in a presidential election that was widely hailed as the most free and fair in the country’s history. The candidates were Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
The election was expected to end eight years of military rule under General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and usher in a new era of democracy and development. But it turned out to be a nightmare that plunged the nation into chaos and violence.
What many Nigerians did not know was that the annulment of the election was not a sudden decision by Babangida, but a well-orchestrated plot by some powerful forces within and outside his regime. The plot involved a shadowy group called the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), led by the late Francis Arthur Nzeribe and one Abimbola Davis.
The ABN was allegedly sponsored by some members of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), the highest ruling body at that time, who were opposed to Abiola’s emergence as president. They feared that Abiola, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist, would challenge their interests and expose their corruption.
The ABN filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging that Abiola had engaged in electoral malpractices during the SDP primaries in Jos in March 1993. The suit sought to stop the election from holding on June 12.
On July 10, 1993, two days before the election, Justice Bassey Ikpeme delivered a shocking ruling at 9:35 pm, granting an ex-parte order to halt the election. She also made a final pronouncement on the case, despite the fact that it was an interlocutory application and that the National Electoral Commission (NEC) had not been heard.
She said that the allegations against Abiola were “the greatest shame in the history of Nigeria’s politics” and that he was unfit to contest the election. She also disregarded Section 19(1) of Decree 13 of 1993, which ousted the jurisdiction of any court to entertain any suit or application pertaining to any matter connected with or arising from any election conducted under the decree.
The ruling caused confusion and outrage across the country. The NEC, headed by Professor Humphrey Nwosu, issued a statement rejecting the court order and insisting that the election would go ahead as planned. The NEC also filed a counter-affidavit challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
Meanwhile, some senior officials of NEC revealed that they had visited Aso Rock Presidential Villa earlier that day to brief Babangida on their preparations for the election. They said that one of the members of NDSC asked them what they came to do at the Villa and whether there would be an election.
They said they did not understand the significance of his question until they heard about Justice Ikpeme’s ruling later that night.
Despite the legal tussle and uncertainty, Nigerians trooped out en masse on June 12 to cast their votes for their preferred candidates. The election was conducted peacefully and transparently, with local and international observers commending its conduct.
The results from various states showed that Abiola was leading Tofa by a wide margin. It was clear that he had won the majority of votes across all regions and ethnic groups.
However, before NEC could announce the final results, Babangida made a shocking announcement on June 23, 1993. He annulled the election on national television, citing security reasons and alleged irregularities.
He said that he had taken the decision after consulting with members of NDSC and other stakeholders. He also said that he had set up a committee to review the political transition programme and propose a new timetable for elections.
Babangida’s announcement sparked widespread protests and riots across the country. Nigerians felt betrayed and angry by his action. They demanded that he should respect their will and declare Abiola as the winner of the election.
Abiola also rejected Babangida’s annulment and declared himself as the president-elect on June 11, 1994. He said that he had received his mandate from Nigerians and he would not surrender it to anyone.
He called on Nigerians to join him in a peaceful struggle to reclaim his mandate and restore democracy. He also appealed to the international community to support his cause and sanction Babangida’s regime.
Abiola’s declaration and resistance earned him the wrath of Babangida and his successor, General Sani Abacha, who took over power in a coup on November 17, 1993.
Abiola was arrested and detained by the military on charges of treason. He spent four years in prison, where he was allegedly tortured and denied access to his family and lawyers.
He died in custody on July 7, 1998, under mysterious circumstances, just a month after Abacha’s death. His death sparked another wave of protests and violence across the country.
Many Nigerians believe that Abiola was killed by the military to prevent him from becoming president. They also believe that he was a martyr for democracy and a hero of the June 12 struggle.
The annulment of the June 12 election was a tragic mistake that cost Nigeria dearly. It robbed the country of a golden opportunity to embrace democracy and development. It also led to the loss of many lives and properties, as well as the isolation and sanction of Nigeria by the international community.
It took Nigeria another six years to return to civilian rule, after the death of Abacha and Abiola. On May 29, 1999, General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over power to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who won the presidential election under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Obasanjo was a former military head of state and a friend of Abiola. He also hailed from the same state as Abiola, Ogun State.
However, Obasanjo did not recognise June 12 as a significant date in Nigeria’s history. He did not honour Abiola or declare him as the winner of the annulled election. He also did not compensate his family or supporters for their losses and sacrifices.
Instead, he chose May 29 as Democracy Day, to mark his inauguration as president. He also named some national monuments after Abacha, who was widely seen as a dictator and an enemy of democracy.
Obasanjo’s actions angered many Nigerians, especially those who fought for June 12. They felt that he had betrayed Abiola and his legacy. They also felt that he had trivialised June 12 and its significance for Nigeria’s democracy.
They continued to demand that June 12 should be recognised as Democracy Day and that Abiola should be honoured as the true winner of the election.
Their demand was finally met on June 6, 2018, when President Muhammadu Buhari announced that June 12 would henceforth be celebrated as Democracy Day in Nigeria. He also conferred the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola posthumously.
He also honoured Abiola’s running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) award. He also honoured late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a human rights lawyer and activist who fought for June 12, with the same award.
Buhari said that his decision was in recognition of June 12 as the day Nigerians freely expressed their democratic will in an election that was eventually annulled by Babangida.
He said that his decision was also in honour of Abiola as the presumed winner of the election and a symbol of Nigeria’s democracy.
He said that his decision was aimed at correcting an injustice done to Nigerians and healing the wounds of the past.
Buhari’s decision was widely applauded by Nigerians, especially those who witnessed or participated in June 12. They praised him for his courage and sincerity in acknowledging June 12 and honouring Abiola.
They also hoped that his decision would inspire Nigerians to uphold the values and ideals of June 12, such as unity, peace, justice and democracy.
June 12 is now Democracy Day in Nigeria. It is a day to remember the sacrifices made by Nigerians for democracy. It is also a day to celebrate the triumph of democracy over dictatorship.
It is a day to honour Abiola and other heroes of June 12 who paid the supreme price for democracy. It is also a day to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria’s democracy.
It is a day to renew our commitment to building a better Nigeria for ourselves and future generations.
