Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), has described the annulment June 12 presidential election as an “accident of history” and one of the most painful decisions of his life.
He expressed regret over the turmoil that followed, acknowledging that if given another chance, he would have handled it differently.
Speaking on Thursday at the launch of his autobiography, A Journey in Service, and the unveiling of his presidential library in Abuja, Babangida admitted that while the election was credible, his administration could not complete the process due to prevailing national challenge.
He however added that the decision to annul was made in the supreme national interest to ensure Nigeria’s survival.
“Undoubtedly, credible, free, and fair elections were held on June 12, 1993. However, the tragic irony remains that the administration that devised a near-perfect electoral system and conducted those elections could not complete the process. That accident of history is most regrettable,” he said.
Taking full responsibility for the annulment, Babangida emphasized that the decision, though painful, was necessary to prevent Nigeria from descending into crisis.
“As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch, and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, oversights, and missteps occurred in quick succession, but in all matters, we acted in the supreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive,” he stated.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, Babangida acknowledged that his administration’s actions disrupted the transition to civilian rule but noted that the country ultimately overcame the setback.
“Our nation’s march to democracy was interrupted, a fact that I deeply regret. But Nigeria survived, and democracy is still alive—a testament to our resilience and commitment to progress,” he concluded.
