Witness To June 12: The Story Of Nigeria’s Annulled Election (CH 1)

The story of Nigeria’s journey toward the historic June 12, 1993, election cannot be told without first understanding the era that shaped it—a period defined by the rise of General Ibrahim Babangida, sweeping economic reforms, and a bold, if ultimately flawed, attempt to return the country to civilian rule.

General Ibrahim Babangida’s Rise to Power

On August 27, 1985, Nigeria awoke to the news of yet another military coup. Major-General Ibrahim Babangida, then Chief of Army Staff, led a faction of mid-level officers in toppling the government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Babangida justified the coup by accusing Buhari of failing to address Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis, promising instead “to rejuvenate the economy ravaged by decades of government mismanagement and corruption”. Buhari was detained in Benin City, and Babangida swiftly replaced the Supreme Military Council with his own Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), consolidating power and setting the tone for a new era.

The Structural Adjustment Program and Its Political Implications
Nigeria in the mid-1980s was a nation at a crossroads. The oil boom had faded, leaving the economy battered by debt, inflation, and dwindling foreign reserves. Babangida’s answer was the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), launched in 1986 with support from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The SAP aimed to devalue the naira, reduce import dependency, and attract foreign investment. It was, on paper, a pragmatic response to economic collapse.

The SAP and Its Immediate Impact
The SAP, designed in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, aimed to overhaul Nigeria’s economy by: Devaluing the naira to boost exports, Removing subsidies (especially on fuel and essential goods), Liberalizing trade, and Privatizing state-owned enterprises.

While it was intended to revive the economy, these reforms quickly led to:
Soaring inflation: Prices of food, fuel, and basic goods rose sharply, eroding the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians; Unemployment and poverty: Many lost jobs as government spending was slashed and industries struggled to adapt; Widespread hardship: The middle class shrank, and the poor grew poorer, leading to deep resentment.

The economic pain translated into political instability, leading to protests and riots. The most notable were the anti-SAP riots of 1989, where students, workers, and urban poor took to the streets in cities like Lagos and Kaduna.

SAP also led to loss of regime legitimacy. Babangida’s government, initially welcomed for promising reform, became increasingly unpopular as living conditions worsened.
The regime responded with repression—arresting activists, banning organizations, and censoring the press.

In a widely reported interview, Babangida defended the reforms: “We cannot continue to live beyond our means. The SAP is a bitter pill, but it is necessary for our survival and future prosperity.”

Yet, the “bitter pill” proved too much for many. Eyewitness accounts from journalists described the growing unrest: “Markets became battlegrounds. The ordinary Nigerian bore the brunt—food prices doubled, transport costs soared, and hope was in short supply.” The anti-SAP riots of 1989, led by students and workers, shook the regime, with headlines in the Guardian and Punch capturing the anger in the streets.

For the Babangida regime, SAP was more than just an economic blueprint—it was a political gamble. The reforms brought hardship to ordinary Nigerians as prices soared and jobs vanished, fueling social unrest. Critics, including respected scholars like Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, argued that SAP’s benefits accrued mainly to the elite, while the masses bore the brunt of austerity. Babangida sought to use the program to gain international legitimacy, but at home, it deepened the sense of crisis and urgency for political change.

Announcement of the Transition to Civil Rule Program
Recognizing the growing discontent, Babangida announced a transition to civil rule. Unlike the relatively straightforward transition of 1979, Babangida’s program was labyrinthine, marked by repeated postponements and a barrage of decrees—57 in total, containing over a thousand provisions. The process was carefully managed, with the military retaining ultimate control at every stage.

The transition plan included the creation of new states, the establishment of two-tiered legislatures, and a phased approach to elections—local, state, and finally, presidential. Babangida’s supporters saw this as evidence of his “sense of place in history,” while his critics suspected a deliberate ploy to perpetuate military dominance.

Creation of the Two-Party System: SDP and NRC
Perhaps the most audacious aspect of Babangida’s transition was the creation of a two-party system by military fiat. In 1989, after a national debate on political reform, Babangida announced the formation of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). The move was designed to end the ethnic and regional factionalism that had plagued Nigeria’s earlier republics, but it was also a way for the military to control the political process.

“The two-party political system with the Social Democratic Party, SDP and the National Republican Convention, NRC conceived by the Babangida administration in 1989 was birthed to swallow the malaise that had until then stymied the country’s political system,” observed one political editor. The parties were funded and structured by the state, and their manifestos were crafted to be nearly indistinguishable, further blurring the lines of genuine political competition.
The SDP was conceived as a center-left party, attracting young intellectuals, socialists, and progressives. Its core was formed from the merger of groups like the People’s Front of Nigeria, People’s Solidarity Party, and the Nigerian Labor Party. The party’s leadership, while dominated by Northerners, drew strength from the Southeast and Southwest, and it quickly became a magnet for influential figures including Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Babagana Kingibe, and M.K.O. Abiola. The SDP’s manifesto championed social justice and welfare, and the party won a majority in the 1992 National Assembly elections.

The NRC, by contrast, was organized to cater to conservative leanings, flourishing in the core northern states and parts of the southwest. Like the SDP, it was funded and structured by the state, with its ideology crafted to be only marginally different from its rival. The NRC attracted its own set of political heavyweights, including Bashir Tofa, who would later become its presidential candidate.

Early Maneuverings and Alignments Among Political Heavyweights
With the formation of the SDP and NRC, Nigeria’s political landscape was reset. Many seasoned politicians, having been banned from participation, worked behind the scenes as “godfathers,” influencing alignments and alliances. The SDP, in particular, became a battleground for powerful factions: the People’s Front (led by Shehu Musa Yar’Adua), the People’s Solidarity Party, and others. These groups jockeyed for control, shaping the party’s direction and its eventual choice of presidential candidate for the June 12 election.

On the NRC side, the party’s conservative base and state-driven structure meant that its leadership was often in step with the military’s preferences. Bashir Tofa, a businessman from Kano, emerged as a leading figure, while others worked to consolidate support in the north and southwest.

Throughout this period, the air was thick with intrigue. Political actors maneuvered for advantage, alliances shifted, and the military’s shadow loomed over every decision. Yet, beneath the surface, a genuine desire for democratic change simmered. As the nation prepared for the primaries that would select the presidential candidates of the SDP and NRC, Nigerians dared to hope that, at last, the long-promised transition to civilian rule might become a reality.
Key Interviews and Statements by Babangida on Democratic Transition
Throughout the transition, Babangida was a master of political communication, granting interviews and issuing statements that projected both confidence and caution. He spoke of the need for “new civilian leaders free of corruption” and insisted that the military’s role was to “midwife” democracy. Yet, behind the scenes, he maintained tight control, often overruling party decisions and disqualifying candidates.

Babangida’s rhetoric was often at odds with reality. In one notable interview, he claimed, “We are committed to handing over to a democratically elected government,” even as the transition program was repeatedly delayed and manipulated. His critics, including many within the political class, accused him of never intending to relinquish power.

Role of General Augustus Aikhomu as Chief of General Staff
At Babangida’s side throughout this era was Admiral Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu, who served as Chief of General Staff—the regime’s de facto vice president—from 1986 to 1993. Aikhomu was a steady hand in the administration, overseeing key aspects of governance and supporting Babangida’s transition agenda. His naval background and technocratic approach lent credibility to the regime, even as it faced mounting opposition and crises.

Early Opposition Voices: Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo
Amid the carefully choreographed transition, a chorus of opposition voices emerged. Chief Abraham Adesanya, a veteran of Nigeria’s independence struggle, became a leading figure in the pro-democracy movement.

Ayo Adebanjo, another stalwart of progressive politics, was equally unyielding. Through interviews and writings, Adebanjo consistently challenged the legitimacy of military rule and advocated for true federalism and accountable governance.
Both men, along with other activists, kept alive the flame of democratic aspiration, even as the military sought to extinguish it. The were to form the core of NADECO, the organisation formed to fight the annulment of the June 12 presidential election.

Thus began Nigeria’s long, winding, and ultimately tragic journey through the Babangida era—a period of grand promises, dashed hopes, and enduring lessons. The stage was set for the drama of June 12, 1993, and the figures who would shape its outcome.