The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called for the prosecution of former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), over his role in annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The demand follows Babangida’s recent public admission of his involvement in the annulment, which the CDHR described as an attempt to “hoodwink” Nigerians into believing he acted in good faith.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the CDHR condemned Babangida’s actions as a “brazen sociopolitical and moral assault” on Nigerians, undermining democracy and leading to widespread human rights violations.
The statement, signed by CDHR President Debo Adeniran, asserted that the annulment amounted to a “coup d’état” against MKO Abiola’s administration, depriving him of his rightful victory.
“The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) received with a heavy heart the recent admission of the infamous June 12 notorious fact by former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (Rtd). His belated public confessions regarding his role in the illegal annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election is an attempt to hoodwink unwary Nigerians into believing that the mischievous dictator actually meant well by the brazen sociopolitical and moral assault he unleashed on them,” the statement read in part.
The group criticized the military regime’s interference in the electoral process, accusing Babangida of imposing political structures, banning and unbanning politicians, and enforcing ideological frameworks alien to Nigerians.
“The worst of the unfair treatments unleashed on the 14 million citizens who voted in the election by the self-acclaimed Evil Genius was the inexplicable annulment announced on June 23, 1993, when the world expected the declaration of Chief MKO Abiola as the winner,” the statement continued.
CDHR described the annulment as a “reckless, illegal, and unconstitutional action” that led to political turmoil, civil unrest, economic hardship, and human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, political assassinations, and the suppression of press freedom.
The organization called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order Babangida’s prosecution for “crimes against humanity” and for orchestrating a “coup d’état that subverted the democratic will of the Nigerian people.”
“This prosecution should not be difficult since the chief plotter has confessed to these crimes in public and in writing, as published in his bloody book that could have been ‘A Journey into Perdition’ mistitled A Journey in Service,” the statement added.
CDHR also urged President Tinubu to honor Abiola by officially recognizing him as a past Nigerian president and revoking national honors and privileges granted to those who benefitted from the annulment, including members of the Interim National Government led by late Chief Ernest Shonekan.
The group further called on the judiciary, anti-corruption agencies, and international human rights organizations to take decisive action in ensuring justice.
“Justice for June 12 is justice for democracy, and Nigeria must never allow such an egregious crime to go unpunished. The time for accountability is now,” the statement concluded.
