Twenty-eight years ago, Nigerians stood at polling booths across the nation to vote in the anticipated return of civilian rule. This was only made possible by the then military head of state Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda who initiated the transition process from military rule to democracy, this announcement in 1986.
He began by creating the National Electoral Commission through a decree in 1987 to oversee the transition process after religious divides in the country. In the same year, a political bureau was established, they were tasked with easing political competition and political divide in the country. Although Babaginda announced that the elections would be held in October 1990, he later pushed the hand-over to date to 1992.
Primary elections within the parties held in 1992, with Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) being the winners. The decision through a nomination process supervised by the NEC that involved a knockout contest from the local to the national level, using an open ballot system – Option A4.
The attempt to change from military rule to civilian government came with its own challenges as we discovered from people who experienced this first hand. Here is what they had to tell us about the monumental June 12 event.
After years of the military regime, what did you think of the mooted transfer of power to a civilian government?
Mr Olubusi: The transition programme had been characterized by much insincerity that we all looked forward to it coming to an end, but I did not imagine that having gone to that extent an annulment would follow
Mrs Abidemi: I prefer the term democracy because there is more freedom than the military regime. For example, the way youths were able to protests for their rights.
Mrs Udodiong: We were made to believe that it would be a better time for Nigerians because of the personality involved. MK Abiola.
What was the build-up to the election like?
Mr Olubusi: The two candidates had spent much time and resources selling themselves in the media. The electorate had been fired up and there was great expectation that they would exercise their right to freely elect their candidates.
Mrs Abidemi: At first it was organized and people were happy because they got to vote for the leader of their choice.
Mrs Udodiong: Before the election, there was so much tension in the country. Some people travelled home, Easterners and Southerners many of them, like 75% or 80% of people travelled home because there was so much trouble, that if Abiola does not win the election, there would be war.
Were you able to vote? Who did you vote for and what was the process like?
Mr Idowu: I voted for Moshood Abiola.
Mrs Abidemi: Yes I voted, I voted for Chief MKO Abiola, Social Democratic Party (S.D.P )The process was not too bad.
Mrs Udodiong: People came out en masse. It was the first time people left their business, left their homes, left everything behind just to come out to make an input, making a beeline, hoping that Abiola will become our president. Yes, I voted and I voted for MKO Abiola the choice of the people.
What did you make of the decision to annul the election? What was the general response like?
Mr Olubusi: I thought the decision was unfair to the country and its citizens, certainly not to the candidates as a crumbling of hopes, resources, energy and time.
Mrs Abidemi: The country was left in disarray with riots and fight happening.
Mrs Udodiong: The announcement came as a shock in the night to Nigerians. After voting and spending hours and facing so many problems at the polling booth, we had thought that yes, our choice would be accepted, but the Nigerian factor came to play. Abiola was our choice, the choice of the people and yet at the end of the day, we heard it was annulled and we were not happy.
Looking back, what impact do you think that election and its subsequent annulment had on Nigeria’s democracy? What lessons do you think are the most essential
Mr Olubusi: It was a dangerous development that rubbished the integrity of elections and introduced a cavalier disregard for the electorate, and widened the gulf of mistrust between the north and south. The country is yet to recover from it.
Mrs Abidemi: The day had a terrible effect on Nigeria. The people no longer believed in the government or their ability to decide a leader of their choice. We are still suffering from that decision.
Mrs Udodiong: For Nigerians, it just made us know that the hand of the government was in it, but for Nigerians who spent their time, sweat, and expressed their desire to have MKO Abiola as their President, it failed and subsequently, other elections have never been free for Nigeria. Even the Americans had declared that as the freest and fairest elections Nigerians had conducted, but here we are, we’ve never heard the results.