I annuled June 1993 presidential election because of ‘coup scare’, IBB opens up after 28 years

Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has opened up on reasons he annuled the most transparent presidenrial election in Nigeria’s history.

He said the June 12, 1993 election was annuled because there was a looming coup de tat, if he had allowed the elecrion to materialised.

The election which was won by the the late billionaire, Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) against Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) was believed to be the most freest and fairest presidential poll in the nation’s history.

The ex-General opened up after 28 years of the annulment on Friday while speaking on Arise Television.

He didn’t disclose those behind the presumptuous coup, but said that was all he could say about the annulment.

Babangida said: “If it materialised, there would’ve been a coup d’etat — which could have been violent. That’s all I can confirm.

“It didn’t happen thanks to the engineering and the ‘maradonic’ way we handled you guys in the society. But that could’ve given room for more instability in the country.”

He admitted to having external and internal pressure on his junta to annul the election.

“Both. The military can do it because they have the weapons to do it, and others (civil society groups) can use agitation.”