Nigerians in some states of the federation marked the June 12 election annulment, which has become one of the most significant dates in the nation’s political history.
Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the controversial annulment of what is believed to be one of the freest and fairest elections ever conducted in Nigeria.
On June 12, 1993, many Nigerians believed they were at the threshold of witnessing the completion of a political transition from military to democratic governance, with the conclusion of the presidential election.
Results released showed business mogul and philanthropist, Mr Moshood Abiola, who ran on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) clearly in the lead and on the verge of emerging victorious.
But the final results did not see the light of day, as then Military Ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, made a shocking announcement that the election had been annulled.
Nigerians reacted with street protests, nationwide strikes and civil disobedience.
The resultant crisis eventually forced Babangida out of office, handing over to a short-lived interim government lead by Ernest Shonekan, who was overthrown by General Sani Abacha on November 17.
General Abacha later had Chief Abiola jailed for claiming his mandate. Chief M.K.O Abiola died in detention on July 8 1998.
However, the anniversary of the presidential election is held every year mostly in the south western part of the country, Chief Abiola’s home region.
There have been calls from some quarters to have the day immortalised as Democracy Day in Nigeria, but the government has upheld May 29 as the nation’s Democracy Day.
