Chief Olu Falae: “NADECO Was Formed to Fight for Abiola’s Mandate, I Was Detained for Two Years”

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, has reacted to General Ibrahim Babangida’s recent admission that Chief Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election, stating that the revelation is nothing new....CONTINUE READING>>>

“What he said is nothing new—we have always known and believed that Abiola won the election.”

Falae emphasized that Abiola’s victory has long been acknowledged by those who fought against the annulment, particularly the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

Recalling the struggles of NADECO, he highlighted how its members—including himself—were arrested and detained for demanding that the military hand over power to the rightful winner.

“We formed NADECO to fight for the fact that Abiola won the election and should be declared president. I was detained for two years for fighting that cause.”

“We gave the military an ultimatum to hand over Abiola’s mandate, but they started arresting us. I was kept in detention for two years.”

In his memoir, A Journey in Service, Babangida admitted that the annulment of the June 12 election was influenced by internal pressures within his administration, particularly from forces aligned with General Sani Abacha.

He took full responsibility for the decision, acknowledging that it led to nationwide unrest and political instability. Babangida expressed regret over the annulment, describing it as a painful chapter in Nigeria’s history.