The family of late General Sani Abacha has strongly rejected recent claims made by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida. In Babangida’s memoir, A Journey in Service, he alleged Abacha influenced the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. This election is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest, yet it was controversially annulled.
Responding, Mohammed Abacha, speaking on behalf of the family, accused Babangida of attempting to distort historical facts. He insisted that Babangida’s account was inaccurate and aimed at rewriting history for personal or political gain.
“Our attention has been drawn to claims by Ibrahim Babangida about the June 12 annulment,” Mohammed Abacha said. “He claimed the annulment was the responsibility of Sani Abacha, who was not Head of State at the time.”
He clarified that Abacha lacked executive powers during the annulment and held no authority to make such decisions. “Abacha was neither Commander-in-Chief nor Head of State, so the annulment decision rested fully with Babangida’s government,” he stated.
Mohammed Abacha further declared, “General Babangida annulled the election while holding absolute powers and taking full responsibility for the decision.” He described any attempt to blame Abacha as “a deliberate distortion of historical facts” and an effort to shift blame.
He urged Nigerians to beware of “revisionist narratives” aimed at misleading the public and obscuring the truth about past events. The family emphasized Abacha’s loyalty, noting that he protected Babangida even when his own life was threatened.
The June 12 annulment remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial political events, sparking intense debates about who bears responsibility. This renewed dispute between the families of Babangida and Abacha has reignited public discussion about that defining moment in Nigeria’s history.
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