June 12

As the cat and mouse drama between Babangida and MKO Abiola intensified from June 20th to June 22nd, by 23rd of June 1993, rumor that the June 12 Presidential Election will be annulled began to spread round political circles in both SDP and NRC. MKO Abiola was hindered from seeing Babangida one-on-one at the airport during his condolence visit to General Shehu Musa Yaradua; he and his entourage returned to Lagos in his private jet. In the plane, multiple sources informed MKO Abiola and his entourage that there was really a press statement purportedly annuling the election; several SDP chieftains suggested that the plane be diverted to Akure Aiport so they can all safely disperse to their houses, but MKO insisted on landing at the Lagos Airport.

When NDSC met again on the 25th of June 1993, all of the officers, including Abacha and Diya, refused Babangida's order to issue a statement on his behalf on the annulment. By evening of the same day, Babangida found a willing accomplice in his Minister of Information, Uche Chukwumerije, who, true to his role in Biafra propaganda during the Civil War days, promises to help Babangida spin the propaganda that can contain the backlash from the annulment declaration by getting traditional rulers and several other dignitaries from other ethnic/geo-political zones, to get behind Babangida by showing some sort of support for his decision.

Meanwhile, chief Tony Enahoro and other elder statemen from all over the country, tore into pieces Chukwumerije's propaganda, by issuing a press statement where the facts and figures of the Babangida military misrule were tendered before the public.

Seeing no way out of the political crisis, Babangida reached out to his former boss, General Olusegun Obasanjo...