Abacha’s daughter reacts to Babangida’s claims on June 12 annulment

Gumsu Abacha, daughter of the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, has seemingly responded to former military president Ibrahim Babangida’s claims about her father’s role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Taking to her X handle on Friday, Gumsu posted a one-word reaction: “Weakling.” While she did not mention any names, her post came amid widespread discussions surrounding Babangida’s newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service.

In the 420-page memoir, Babangida described the annulment of the June 12 election, won by the late MKO Abiola, as an “accident of history” and “most regrettable.” He claimed that the decision to cancel the election was announced without his knowledge while he was in Katsina, attributing the move to his second-in-command’s press secretary.

Babangida further alleged that Abacha, who was his chief of defence staff at the time, led the forces pushing for the annulment. He stated that he had offered Abiola an interim position to resolve the crisis, but the late businessman was misled into believing the election would be revalidated once Babangida was out of power.

Following mass protests, Babangida stepped down in August 1993, installing an interim government led by Ernest Shonekan, which Abacha later overthrew in November of the same year. Abacha then detained Abiola after he declared himself president.

Many observers have since criticized Babangida’s account, accusing him of shifting blame onto Abacha, who is no longer alive to defend himself. Gumsu appeared to reinforce this sentiment by reposting comments suggesting that Babangida was rewriting history at Abacha’s expense.