June 12, Abiola v. Tofa: What might have been

"It's not the voting that's democracy; it's the counting." TOM STOPPARD, Jumpers

June 12 1993 in Nigeria has become an ever talking point yearly . General Ibrahim Babangida who annulled the election is yet to give reason to the annulment. The news shocked everyone in Nigeria: the large number of people who voted for MKO. Some Nigerians fought back to have the Babangida rescind the decision.

The Supreme Court was as quiet as a dead man. Hundreds of lives were lost in the post-annulment protests, houses and organizations burnt down, reports of missing persons increased, the winner of a democratic election jailed.

June 12 is not the first and only incident. Recently, Governor Rotimi Amaechi won the Chairmanship for the National Governos Forum and was later suspended by his party.

Incidents like this makes you wonder: What might have been had Abiola been allowed to rule. Will history repeats itself during the next presidential elections?