ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has accused President Bola Tinubu of revising history for political gain, claiming the president was among those who supported the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election by then military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.
In an interview aired by Arise News on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Lamido dismissed Tinubu’s widely publicised narrative as a pro-democracy icon, calling it “dramatised” and “entertaining,” while challenging the authenticity of his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
“I feel highly entertained by Tinubu’s rhetoric, the way he’s dramatising his role in Nigeria’s democracy,” Lamido said.
“Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government; before then, he was in the senate while he was the secretary of the party.”
Lamido alleged that Tinubu and his family were closely aligned with the Babangida regime at the time of the June 12 annulment.
“He was part of those who supported IBB’s annulment of the June 12 election. His own mother, Hajia Mogaji, was organising Lagos market women to come to Abuja to pledge support for Babangida,” he said.
The former governor further claimed that Tinubu’s emergence as a pro-democracy figure came only after General Sani Abacha seized power in late 1993.
“NADECO was a postulation formation to fight Abacha, not for June 12,” he added, referring to the National Democratic Coalition, a group widely credited for opposing Abacha’s military dictatorship and demanding a return to civilian rule.
Tinubu Was Part of Those Who Supported Babangida’s June 12 Annulment – Lamido
I feel highly entertained by Tinubu’s rhetoric, the way he’s dramatising his role in Nigeria’s democracy. Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government; before then, he… pic.twitter.com/4Y17DNgWA3
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) June 21, 2025
Lamido’s statement adds a new layer to the ongoing national debate over the legacy of June 12, the 1993 election widely believed to have been won by Moshood Abiola, but which was annulled by the Babangida-led military government.
Tinubu, now president, has long claimed a prominent role in the resistance that followed and has consistently positioned himself as a central figure in the struggle for democracy.
While Tinubu has received accolades for his involvement in NADECO and his exile-era activism, critics like Lamido argue that the president has overstated his contributions, accusing him of political opportunism.
There has been no official response from the presidency to Lamido’s claims.
