A former presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye, has said that the annulment of June 12, 1993, presidential election by former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, had a “devastating impact on our trajectory as a nation”.
According to the leadership coach, Nigerians concluded that their votes don’t count after the controversial annulment of the election adjudged by many as one of the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.
Durotoye was a guest on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
The former presidential candidate said the annulment of the June 12 election over three decades ago tampered with the voting behaviour of Nigerians and enthroned the culture of electoral apathy in the populace.
He said, “The past does not shape the future; it only shapes the present. It is now that matters because we like to look back at the things that happened. I would almost have not wanted to comment about the IBB book launch except for the fact that it had such a devastating impact on our trajectory as a nation.
“One of the most devastating things that we didn’t realise was that it was that particular moment that the people came to the conclusion that ‘our votes don’t count’. From that moment was when you start hearing: ‘Our votes don’t count’. It was that annulment that embedded that (votes not counting) into the consciousness of the people.
“The danger of ‘my votes don’t count’ is that the majority have become the minority. Look at the number of registered voters and look at the number of votes that are counted.”
Durotoye said there are four kinds of votes – mobilised votes, monetised votes, manufactured votes, and manipulated votes. According to him, all the categories of votes were not up to half of the total registered voters in the 2023 general election.
“Even with all of that, go and look at the number of votes that are cast and the number of registered voters, and you realised that the concept of ‘my votes don’t count’ is the most powerful thing that the rulers have used to suppress us.
“For instance, in the last election, there were 93 million registered voters but only about 23 million votes were counted including manufactured and manipulated votes. 70 million people did not vote. That is the majority,” he said.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, 32 years after he annulled the June 12, 1993 election, Babangida admitted for the first time that the late philanthropist and democracy hero Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the election.
The startling revelation was contained in Babangida’s 420-page memoir titled, ‘A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida’ which was launched in Abuja with continental and national dignitaries in attendance.
The “evil genius” and “Maradona” as Babangida was nicknamed answered the question as to whether Abiola won the June 12 election in his book.
“Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon further reflection, and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections,” Babangida admitted in his book.
“Upon closer examination of the original collated figure from the 110 polling booths nationwide, it was clear that he satisfied the two main requirements for winning the presidential election – mainly majority votes and geographical spread – having obtained 8,128,720 against Tofa’s 5,848,247 votes and securing the mandatory of one-third of the votes cast in 28 states of the Federation including Abuja.”
He also told the gathering that the annulment of the poll was in “extreme national interest”.
Babangida’s admission has sparked public conversations, attracting a cocktail of knocks and praises.