• Ex-military president admits election was free, fair, credible

Former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), has finally owned up to the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, describing it as the most regrettable decision of his administration.

Speaking at the launch of his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’, and the inauguration of his presidential library in Abuja on Thursday, Babangida admitted that his regime’s inability to complete the electoral process remained a stain on Nigeria’s democratic history.

“I have had to contend with this question all the time – when will you tell your side of the story? This book attempts to answer some of those questions, offering my perspective on the experiences, decisions, and challenges of my time in office,” he stated.

The former Head of State acknowledged that his government had built an electoral system that led to what many still regard as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election. However, he lamented that the same administration that birthed the process ultimately truncated it.

“Undoubtedly, the elections held on June 12, 1993, were credible, free, and fair.

“But the tragic irony is that the same government that designed a near-perfect electoral system could not complete the process.

“That accident of history is most regrettable.

“The nation expects me to express my regret, and I do,” he said.

Babangida stressed that as the leader of the military regime at the time, he accepted full responsibility for the annulment, admitting that certain missteps were made.

“Mistakes, oversights, and missteps happened in quick succession. But as I state in my book, every decision taken was in the supreme national interest, to ensure Nigeria’s survival.

“The march to democracy was interrupted, and I deeply regret that. However, Nigeria and democracy have survived, and that is a testament to our collective resilience,” he added.