Former Nigerian military leader Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has said he regrets cancelling the June 12, 1993 presidential election. He admitted that if given another chance, he would have acted differently.
IBB made this statement on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of his autobiography, A Journey in Service. Speaking after former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo reviewed the book, Babangida took full responsibility for stopping the election, which was between Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
“I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility. Mistakes were made,” he said.
In the past, IBB defended his decision, saying Nigeria was not ready for democracy at the time. He admitted that the election was free and fair—the best Nigeria had ever seen—but claimed that security concerns made it impossible to hand over power to a civilian government.
He explained that he feared another military coup would happen soon after the transition, which could have led to more problems for the country. Because of this, he planned to organize another election in November 1993, but the unrest following the cancellation of June 12 made it impossible. Instead, an Interim National Government (ING) was formed, which was later overthrown by General Sani Abacha.
Babangida’s admission comes decades after Nigerians widely accepted June 12 as the fairest election in the country’s history. Many still believe that cancelling the election denied Nigeria a chance for true democracy at that time.
