The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), a human rights advocacy group, has urged the prosecution of former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), for his involvement in the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
This call follows Babangida’s recent public admission of his role in the annulment, which the CDHR criticized as an attempt to mislead Nigerians into believing his actions were justified.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the CDHR denounced Babangida’s actions as a major political and moral failure that undermined democracy and led to severe human rights violations. The organization, through its President, Debo Adeniran, stated that the annulment amounted to a coup against MKO Abiola’s administration, stripping him of a well-earned electoral victory.
The statement read: “The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) is deeply disturbed by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s recent acknowledgment of his role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. His delayed public confession is an attempt to deceive Nigerians into believing that his actions were in good faith.
“Despite the irregularities surrounding the election process, including restrictions on political associations, government-controlled party formations, and the arbitrary disqualification of candidates, the June 12 election remains one of the most peaceful and credible in Nigeria’s history. However, it was still influenced by a military regime that controlled the political framework.
“The most significant injustice was against the 14 million voters who participated in the election when Babangida, known for his manipulative tactics, suddenly annulled the results on June 23, 1993. At a time when Nigerians anticipated the official announcement of Chief MKO Abiola as the winner, they were met instead with an unconstitutional and undemocratic decision that severely damaged the country’s democratic hopes.
“This illegal act stands as one of the most serious violations of Nigerians’ democratic rights, leading to political instability, civil unrest, loss of lives, property destruction, and significant economic hardship. It was nothing less than a coup against the people’s mandate and the administration they had rightfully chosen.
“The annulment of the June 12 election resulted in grave human rights abuses, including unlawful detentions, political assassinations, and suppression of press freedom.
“In light of this, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by ordering the prosecution of General Babangida for crimes against humanity and for orchestrating a coup that undermined the democratic choice of Nigerians. Given that Babangida has publicly admitted his role in this crime, bringing him to justice should not be difficult. His own statements and writings provide ample evidence of his involvement in suppressing democracy.
“The available election results confirmed Abiola’s victory before Babangida, through calculated political maneuvering, halted the official announcement. By doing so, he effectively executed a coup against a legitimate government, committing crimes against humanity that resulted in widespread oppression and suffering due to the misgovernance that followed.
“We also remind President Tinubu that, as he previously noted, Babangida lost his chance to be seen as a hero by annulling the election. President Tinubu must now seize the opportunity to be the hero of the June 12 struggle by officially recognizing MKO Abiola as a past Nigerian president and granting him full posthumous honors, along with associated benefits for his family. Additionally, all those who benefited from the annulment, including the late Chief Ernest Shonekan and members of his unconstitutional Interim National Government, should be held accountable. Their national honors should be revoked, and any benefits they or their families receive should be withdrawn. Assets acquired during their tenure should be confiscated, even if prosecution is no longer possible for some of them due to their passing.
“Furthermore, we call on the Nigerian judiciary, anti-corruption agencies, and international human rights organizations to ensure justice is served. The culture of impunity must end, and those responsible for obstructing Nigeria’s democracy must face legal consequences.
“Justice for June 12 is justice for democracy, and Nigeria must not allow such a major wrongdoing to remain unpunished. The time for accountability is now.”
