The Story Of Nigeria’s Historic June 12 Election – Told Through The Numbers

The June 12, 1993 presidential election is remembered as Nigeria’s fairest and most unifying vote. It featured Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC), in what many hoped would mark the country’s return to civilian rule after years of military governance.

Abiola, a southern Muslim from Ogun State, achieved a historic and unexpected feat, winning across religious, ethnic, and regional lines. He swept his home region in the Southwest, taking 87.78% in Ogun, 85.54% in Lagos, 84.42% in Ondo, and over 83% in both Osun and Oyo.

But Abiola’s appeal went beyond the Southwest. He won in Northern states like Kwara (77.24%), Yobe (63.59%), Taraba (61.42%), and Kaduna (52.2%). In a surprise upset, he even beat Tofa in Kano, Tofa’s home state, with 52.28% of the vote.

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Support for Abiola also cut across the Middle Belt and the South-South. He won convincingly in Plateau (61.68%), Benue (56.94%), Cross River (55.23%), and Delta (69.3%). In the Southeast, he took 57.11% in Anambra and performed strongly in others like Akwa Ibom (51.86%).

Tofa held ground in parts of the Northwest, winning big in Sokoto (79.21%), Kebbi (67.34%), and Katsina (61.3%). He also took states like Bauchi (60.73%), Niger (61.9%), and Abia (58.96%), but overall, Abiola had the edge, winning 19 of the 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Despite this clear mandate, the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election on June 23, triggering protests and national outrage. What followed was political chaos, Babangida’s resignation, and a return to authoritarian rule under General Sani Abacha.

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Abiola was later jailed for declaring himself president and died in detention in 1998. In recognition of what June 12 represents, it was officially declared Nigeria’s Democracy Day in 2018, a tribute to the vote that united the country, even if its result was never honoured.