On June 11, 1994, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola made history in the heart of Epetedo, Lagos. Standing before a crowd of loyalists, he boldly declared himself the democratically elected President of Nigeria nearly a year after the June 12, 1993, election that millions of Nigerians and international observers still regard as the country’s freest and fairest poll. Abiola’s declaration, now known as the Epetedo Declaration, was a direct challenge to military rule and the annulment of his electoral victory by General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime.
Abiola, running under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), had won a clear majority, securing 58.4% of the vote and meeting all constitutional requirements to become president. However, the military government abruptly halted the announcement of results and annulled the election, plunging Nigeria into political crisis and sparking nationwide protests. The annulment forced Babangida from office and paved the way for General Sani Abacha’s repressive regime.
Nearly a year after the annulment, and following failed negotiations and mounting international advocacy, Abiola took his fate into his own hands. In Epetedo a neighborhood chosen for its loyal and supportive community he proclaimed:
“People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief MKO Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform… deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the president you had yourselves elected… As of now, from this moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power throughout the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief.”
The consequences were immediate and severe. The Abacha regime declared Abiola wanted, dispatched security forces to arrest him, and detained him on charges of treason. Abiola spent four years in prison, steadfastly refusing to renounce his mandate. He died in custody on July 7, 1998, under circumstances that remain controversial and deeply painful for many Nigerians.
The Epetedo Declaration stands as a defining act of resistance in Nigeria’s democratic journey a moment when one man risked everything to assert the will of the people over military might. More than three decades later, the echoes of June 12 and Abiola’s sacrifice continue to shape Nigeria’s pursuit of democracy, justice, and national unity.