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Men Who Supervised the Scuttling of June 12, 1993 Election

Published

5 years ago

June 12, 2021

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

In most of his speeches, the maximum ruler that superimposed over the annulment of the June 12, 1993, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), blamed forces beyond his control for the infamous annulment.

In the same vein, most of his loyalists have said that Babangida did what he did because the members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) at the time pressurized him into taking the decision he took even to the extent of threatening to kill him and the presumed winner, Bashorun MKO Abiola if he goes ahead to release the results of the June 12, 1993 elections.

The bottom-line remains that Babangida went ahead to annul the election, and ever since Nigerians have desired to know the forces behind the annulment since Babangida claimed it was a collective decision.

Consequently, The Boss has investigated to reveal the men who formed the AFRC of June 1993. They could very well be the force behind the threat to kill Babangida if he goes ahead to release the results.

Below is a list of the members of the AFRC of Babangida’s dispensation:

General Ibrahim Babangida GCFR

He is a retired Army General who was President of Nigeria from 27 August 1985 to 26 August 1993. He previously served as the Chief of Army staff from January 1984 to August 1985. Babangida was a key player in most of the military coups in Nigeria (July 1966, February 1976, December 1983, August 1985, December 1985 and April 1990). He is inglorious credited with the annulment of the June 12, 1993. He is known to have blamed his colleagues in the AFRC for being the main brain behind the annulment.

Admiral Augustus Aikhomu

He was an Admiral in the Nigerian Navy, who served as the de-facto Vice President of Nigeria during the Ibrahim Babangida-led military junta from 1986 to 1993. He was a member of the AFRC that mentored the June 12 annulment.

General Sani Abacha

He was the Minister of Defence as at the time when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida was the President. He later became the Head of State, and incarcerated MKO Abiola when he demanded his mandate. Abacha is also known to have muffled the voices of anyone who spoke against the annulment.

Clement Akpamgbo

He was the Attorney-General of the Federation. He fired shots aimed at defending the government in which he served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, with the avalanche of ouster clauses that paralysed the legal system of that nearly period. He was also a member of the AFRC.

Lt-Gen Salihu Ibrahim (rtd)

He was Chief of Army Staff from August 1990 until September 1993 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida

Vice Admiral Preston Omatshola (rtd)

He was the Chief of Naval Staff, and a distinguished member of the AFRC.

Air Marshall Akin Dada (rtd);

The Chief of Air Staff

Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie

He was the Inspector-General of Police at the time, the 9^th in the series. He served between 1993 and 1999, under the military governments of Generals Babangida, Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar

Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed

Secretary to the Government who was also the secretary to the council.

Featured

2027: We’re on Track, ADC Hails S’Court Ruling

Published

5 hours ago

May 1, 2026

Eric

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it would never be intimidated, distracted, or silenced in its push to realize a better Nigeria.

Spokesman of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed David Mark’s leadership of the party.

Abdullahi said the judgment has affirmed that the Mark and Rauf Aregbesola leadership of the party is legitimate.

Abdullahi said: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) congratulates all our members and leaders across the country on today’s Supreme Court ruling which affirmed the leadership of our party under Senator David Mark as National Chairman, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

“Today’s decision is a clear affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership under our National Chairman, Senator Mark, and our National Secretary, Ogbeni Aregbesola, are legitimate.

“We commend the five-man panel of the Supreme Court, whose unanimous judgment has today done great credit to the judiciary in our country and our political system.

“However, while we welcome this judgment, we do not mistake it for the end of the struggle. The events leading up to this moment have exposed a troubling pattern of interference, bad faith, and attempts to weaken opposition voices in Nigeria.

“Let it be clearly stated: the ADC will not be intimidated, distracted, or silenced. We remain resolute in our mission to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.

“We therefore urge all our members, supporters, and democratic stakeholders across the country to remain vigilant.”

Featured

Tinubu Appoints Bianca Ojukwu As Foreign Affairs Minister

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Eric

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The announcement was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy).

The appointment followed the resignation of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in preparations for the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s elevation marks a return to a more senior role within Nigeria’s foreign service architecture, having previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Her new appointment places her at the helm of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements, where she is expected to oversee the country’s foreign policy direction, strengthen international partnerships, and advance economic diplomacy objectives.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections.

“Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The Presidency noted that the decision forms part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy framework for greater efficiency and stronger global engagement. It added that the new minister is expected to deepen diplomatic relations, promote Nigeria’s national interest, and ensure the welfare of Nigerians abroad remains a priority.

In the same announcement, President Tinubu also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation.

Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is a seasoned diplomat with over three decades of service in Nigeria’s foreign affairs system and has held key postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.

The Presidency said the appointments are part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture and improve the country’s global diplomatic engagement.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a lawyer, diplomat, and former beauty queen who has had a long career in public service and international diplomacy.

She was born on 5 August 1967 in Anambra State and studied law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Lagos.

Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio in Spain, as well as postgraduate diplomas in Human Rights and International Relations from the Berg Institute, Madrid, and in Dynamics of Conflict and Cooperation from the University for Peace in Costa Rica.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Diaspora Matters and later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain from 2012 to 2015, where she also represented the country at the UN World Tourism Organization. She earlier served as Ambassador to Ghana.

She was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, where she supported Nigeria’s external affairs portfolio, including diplomacy, consular engagement, and international relations strategy. She has now been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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2027: Lagos APC Guber Aspirant Rejects Hamzat As Consensus Candidate

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Eric

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Samuel Ajose, has declared that the endorsement of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the next governor by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) will not stand.

GAC, regarded as the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, endorsed Hamzat, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The decision was reached during a closed-door meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, indicating an early alignment within the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Speaking after the session, GAC leader, Tajudeen Olusi, said members unanimously agreed on Hamzat, expressing confidence in his ability to sustain and build on the state’s developmental progress.

Olusi explained that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the party’s forthcoming primaries and assess the governorship position ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking about the GAC adoption of Hamzat as Lagos APC consensus 2027 governorship candidate on Arise News on Tuesday, Ajose said that Sanwo-Olu and others are trying to force President Tinubu into making a decision.

“I don’t think our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is giving in to what they are doing.

“What they are just trying to do is to coerce him into taking a decision, and I don’t think that decision will stand.”