28/03/2025
JUNE 12, 1993: THE DAY DEMOCRACY WAS BETRAYED
On June 12, 1993, Nigeria witnessed what is widely regarded as its freest and fairest election an election that gave Nigerians hope, only to be crushed by the iron grip of military dictatorship.
Under the leadership of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the National Electoral Commission introduced the Option A4 voting system, an open and transparent process that minimized rigging and manipulation. The people spoke loudly through their votes, and by the end of collation, one man had clearly won: Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). His opponent, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC), had been defeated even in his home state of Kano.
But just as the nation prepared to celebrate a new democratic dawn, the military struck. General Ibrahim Babangida, who had promised a transition to civilian rule, annulled the election on June 23, 1993, claiming “irregularities” a claim that history has since exposed as baseless. The real reason? Fear. Fear that a true democracy, led by a popular leader, would dismantle the corrupt military influence on power.
Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the electoral umpire, stood at a crossroads. He had conducted the election with integrity, ensuring fairness at every stage. But the military’s might was too overwhelming. Before he could publicly announce the final results, pressure mounted from the regime. He was silenced not by incompetence, but by the sheer force of a dictatorship that would rather suppress democracy than allow the people's will to prevail.
MKO Abiola, believing in the mandate freely given to him, later declared himself president in 1994. For that, he was arrested by General Sani Abacha, imprisoned, and never saw freedom again. He died mysteriously on July 7, 1998, a day before his expected release.
June 12 was more than just an election; it was a defining moment in Nigeria’s history. It was the day democracy stood on the edge of victory only to be stabbed in the back by tyranny. Today, as we remember that day, we must never forget those who fought for democracy, and we must continue to demand a Nigeria where the people’s voice can never again be silenced.