Sule Lamido accuses Tinubu of among those who backed annulment of June 12 election

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has accused President Bola Tinubu of being among those who backed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Saturday, Lamido alleged that Tinubu’s mother, Hajia Abibatu Mogaji, mobilized market women from Lagos to Abuja to demonstrate support for then military ruler, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, in the wake of the controversial annulment.

Lamido also downplayed the role of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), asserting that the group was not originally formed to defend the June 12 mandate but rather to oppose the regime of General Sani Abacha.

“I find Tinubu’s portrayal of his contributions to democracy rather theatrical,” Lamido said. “He only gained political relevance after Abacha seized power. Before that, he was just a senator while I served as the national secretary of our party.”

“Tinubu was among those who supported Babangida’s decision to cancel the June 12 election. His mother played a prominent role by organizing market women to back IBB. Tinubu was fully aligned with Babangida at the time. NADECO only emerged after the election, primarily to challenge Abacha—not in direct defense of June 12,” Lamido claimed.

The June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, was won by Chief MKO Abiola but was annulled by then-President Babangida.