Atiku Abubakar Reveals How MKO Abiola Overlooked Him for Kingibe in June 12 Running Mate Decision

 

In a candid reflection on one of Nigeria’s most significant political moments, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has opened up about how he was bypassed as the running mate to Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. Atiku disclosed that despite an initial understanding facilitated by his mentor, Shehu Yar’adua, Abiola ultimately selected Babagana Kingibe under pressure from influential Social Democratic Party (SDP) governors. This revelation, shared in a recent interview, offers a fresh perspective on the internal dynamics that shaped the historic election and its turbulent aftermath.

The SDP Primaries: A Battle of Titans

The journey to the June 12 election began with the SDP primaries held in Jos in 1993, a contest that pitted Atiku, Abiola, and Kingibe against each other for the party’s presidential nomination. Atiku, then an emerging political force mentored by Yar’adua, placed third in the initial voting round, trailing Abiola, who led the pack, and Kingibe, who secured second place. The close results hinted at a potential run-off, but a critical intervention by Yar’adua shifted the trajectory of the primaries.

Atiku recalled the urgency of the situation, noting that he contacted Yar’adua, who was in Kaduna, restricted from political activities by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Fearing that Kingibe might edge out Abiola, Atiku urged his mentor to intervene. “I said to him, ‘If you don’t come to Jos, Kingibe might win this, and I know that’s not what you want.’ He agreed and drove through the night, arriving around 3 or 4 a.m.,” Atiku recounted. Yar’adua’s arrival set the stage for a pivotal decision that would alter the course of the primaries.

A Pact Forged and Broken

In the early hours, Yar’adua met with Abiola at the residence of Alhaji Yahaya Kwande, a notable SDP figure. Though Atiku was not present for the full conversation, Yar’adua later emerged with a clear directive: Atiku was to withdraw his candidacy in favor of Abiola. “He called me and said, ‘Turaki, step down for MKO.’ I didn’t hesitate—I said, ‘Yes, sir,’” Atiku explained. The arrangement, as Atiku understood it, included an assurance that he would be Abiola’s running mate, a deal that would secure the support of Yar’adua’s political network for Abiola’s campaign.

With Atiku’s withdrawal, Abiola clinched the SDP ticket in the subsequent ballot, defeating Kingibe decisively. The stage was set for the June 12 election, where Abiola, paired with Kingibe on an unprecedented Muslim-Muslim ticket, won a landslide victory widely celebrated as Nigeria’s most credible election. Yet, the military annulment of the results by Babangida sparked a national crisis, overshadowing the triumph.

Atiku’s expectation of joining the ticket, however, was upended when Abiola announced Kingibe as his vice-presidential pick. The decision came as a surprise, and Atiku later learned it stemmed from intense lobbying by SDP governors. These governors, many of whom owed their positions to Kingibe’s leadership as SDP chairman, reportedly warned Abiola that their support hinged on selecting Kingibe. “They told him, ‘Take Kingibe, or we won’t back you,’” Atiku revealed. Bowing to this pressure, Abiola sidelined the earlier agreement with Yar’adua, leaving Atiku out of the equation.

The Cost of Political Pragmatism

Abiola’s choice of Kingibe was a pragmatic move to maintain party cohesion and leverage the governors’ influence across key states. Kingibe, a seasoned diplomat and politician from the North-East, brought regional balance to the ticket and a wealth of experience. However, it came at the expense of the understanding with Atiku and Yar’adua, highlighting the fragile nature of political alliances in Nigeria’s high-stakes environment.

For Atiku, the snub was a bitter pill, though he accepted it as part of the political game. His loyalty to Yar’adua’s directive had secured Abiola’s nomination, but the governors’ sway ultimately trumped their arrangement. The decision reverberated beyond the primaries, as the Abiola-Kingibe ticket faced the annulment crisis, with Kingibe later aligning with the Abacha regime while Abiola languished in detention until his death in 1998.

June 12’s Lasting Echoes

The June 12 election remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democratic narrative, symbolizing both the promise of free elections and the pain of their betrayal. Abiola’s victory, though nullified, inspired a generation of activists, and his martyrdom elevated him to legendary status. Atiku’s account adds a layer of complexity to this story, illustrating the personal stakes and strategic calculations that defined the SDP’s campaign.

Atiku’s political career, undeterred by this early setback, flourished in the years that followed. He served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and has since run for president multiple times, including in 2023. His reflection on 1993 underscores the resilience that has marked his journey, as well as the enduring lessons of loyalty and compromise in Nigerian politics.

A Window into History

Atiku’s tale of being overlooked by Abiola is more than a personal grievance—it’s a glimpse into the intricate power plays that shaped one of Nigeria’s most consequential elections. The influence of the SDP governors reveals how regional and factional interests often dictate outcomes, even at the expense of prior commitments. It also prompts speculation about alternative scenarios: Could Atiku’s inclusion have strengthened Abiola’s post-election fight against the annulment? Might it have altered the SDP’s unity in the face of military interference?

As Nigeria continues to navigate its democratic path, Atiku’s story resonates as a testament to the challenges and intricacies of political leadership. The June 12 legacy endures, and with it, the untold stories of those like Atiku who played crucial, yet often overshadowed, roles in its unfolding.