June 12 has become a very significant date in Nigeria as Nigerians cannot forget the presidential election that took place on that day in 1993. The June 12, 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola, was adjudged as the freest and fairest in the history of the country.
Before that election and after it, all other polls in Nigeria especially presidential elections, were marred by allegations of riggings and other controversies. The significance of this date was further solidified when President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 declared June 12 as Democracy Day and posthumously awarded Abiola the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR)- a title reserved for only the President of Nigeria.
That landmark declaration shifted the celebration of Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, beginning in that year, in recognition of Abiola as the rightful winner of the 1993 presidential election. The election itself received both national and international acclaim for its fairness and transparency.
The election and the major candidates
The 1993 election was primarily a two-horse race between Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The National Electoral Commission (NEC) had declared most of the results from the various states before the then-military regime led by President Ibrahim Babangida annulled the entire process.
However, unofficial results indicated that Tofa got 5,952,087 votes (41.64%), while Abiola garnered 8,341,309 votes (58.36%), out of a total of 14,293,396 votes cast. Abiola emerged victorious in 19 of the 30 states, with Tofa winning in 11 states.
The struggle to reclaim his mandate and his sad death
Following several unsuccessful efforts to reclaim his annulled mandate by the military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, Abiola during the famous 'Epetedo Declaration' declared himself the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That declaration seemed to have made things worse for Abiola as the powers that be at that time came for him.
The military head of state, Sani Abacha, responded swiftly to Abiola's speech and charged him with treason after ordering his arrest. Abiola was imprisoned for four years but he never made it out alive as he died under suspicious circumstances. His death generated more tension and outcry from Nigerians who voted massively for him hoping that he would change the fortunes of the country for good.
Despite widespread condemnation of the annulment, Babangida showed no remorse. In a 2021 interview, three decades after the annulment, Babangida still defended his decision, claiming it was necessary to prevent a military coup in Nigeria. To date, many Nigerians and beyond still condemn the manner Abiola was oppressed till he died even as they regard him as a great symbol of true democracy that still eludes the country.
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