The election, adjudged to be the most peaceful, credible and fair in the history of the country, was annulled by the military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
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Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), former military ruler,
issued the proclamation that officially nullified the election adjudged to be one of the most credible poll Nigeria has ever had.
Abiola, the Social Democratic Party candidate, was leading Bashir Tofa, his National Republican Convention rival, by a wide margin but the exercise was stopped ahead of the final announcement of results.
The annulment of the election threw the country into chaos as protesters hit the streets, calling on Babangida to step down.
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Abiola was later arrested by the regime of Abacha and he died in detention.
Speaking on Sunday after his investiture as a trustee of the Abeokuta Club, a sociocultural organisation of Egba people of Ogun state, Obasanjo lamented the annulment, saying it was done out of “bad belle,” a pidgin word for jealousy.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday explained that a former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election presumably won by the late philanthropist, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola due to “bad belle.”
Obasanjo said the annulment denied the Egbaland and Ogun State the rare privilege of having three of its prominent sons occupying the number one seat at different times.
The elder statesman, who was referring to former Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, himself, who was first a military Head of States and elected President, apparently noted that Abiola would have become the third if the 1993 poll was not annulled.
Ex-President Obasanjo: Why MKO Abiola s June 12 victory was annulled today.ng - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from today.ng Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
…How annulment of June 12, 1993 election affected Ogun State
By James Ogunnaike
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, lamented the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, presumably won by late philanthropist, Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, blaming the annulment on ‘bad belle’, adding that ‘bad blood’ denied Abiola the top seat.
Obasanjo said the annulment robbed Egbaland and Ogun State the rare privilege of having three of its prominent sons occupying the No. 1 leadership position in the country at different times till date, since Independence.
Obasanjo spoke at the 46th President Party of Abeokuta Club, held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The elder statesman, who was referring to former Head of Interim National Government, ING, Ernest Shonekan, himself (Obasanjo), who governed the country first as a military head of states and a civilian president, noted that Abiola would have become the third, if 1993 poll was not annulled.