...A Deep Dive into the 1993 Presidential Election Results
By Toba Owojaiye
History often remembers moments, but numbers tell the true story. The presidential election of June 12, 1993, was more than a vote; it was a national reckoning, a collective yearning for democracy. Yet, despite its credibility and historic significance, it was annulled—leaving behind statistics that have since become the fabric of political discourse in Nigeria.
Today, we revisit those numbers to analyze, interpret, and immortalize a watershed moment in our democratic evolution.
The Figures That Shaped a Nation
According to the results detailed in General Ibrahim Babangida’s book, the election was a fierce contest between Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). When the numbers were tallied, it became evident that Abiola had won convincingly, securing 8,259,209 votes against Tofa’s 5,952,087—a margin of 2,307,122 votes.
Yet, beyond the raw numbers, the election had an underlying arithmetic of legitimacy. To win, a candidate needed not only the majority of votes but also at least 25% of the votes in at least 24 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Abiola met and surpassed this threshold, securing 25% in 28 states and the FCT, leaving no constitutional doubt about his victory.
State-by-State Breakdown of the 1993 Presidential Election
Abuja (FCT): Tofa 18,313 | Abiola 19,968
Abia: Tofa 151,227 | Abiola 105,273
Adamawa: Tofa 167,239 | Abiola 140,875
Akwa Ibom: Tofa 199,342 | Abiola 214,787
Anambra: Tofa 159,258 | Abiola 212,024
Bauchi: Tofa 524,836 | Abiola 339,339
Benue: Tofa 186,302 | Abiola 264,830
Borno: Tofa 128,684 | Abiola 153,496
Cross River: Tofa 153,452 | Abiola 189,303
Delta: Tofa 145,001 | Abiola 327,277
Edo: Tofa 103,572 | Abiola 205,407
Enugu: Tofa 284,050 | Abiola 263,101
Imo: Tofa 195,836 | Abiola 159,350
Jigawa: Tofa 89,836 | Abiola 138,552
Kaduna: Tofa 356,860 | Abiola 389,713
Kano: Tofa 154,809 | Abiola 169,619
Katsina: Tofa 271,077 | Abiola 171,162
Kebbi: Tofa 144,808 | Abiola 70,219
Kogi: Tofa 265,732 | Abiola 222,760
Kwara: Tofa 80,209 | Abiola 272,270
Lagos: Tofa 149,432 | Abiola 883,865
Niger: Tofa 221,437 | Abiola 136,350
Ogun: Tofa 59,246 | Abiola 425,725
Ondo: Tofa 162,994 | Abiola 883,024
Osun: Tofa 72,068 | Abiola 365,266
Oyo: Tofa 105,788 | Abiola 536,011
Plateau: Tofa 259,394 | Abiola 417,565
Rivers: Tofa 640,973 | Abiola 370,578
Sokoto: Tofa 372,250 | Abiola 97,726
Taraba: Tofa 64,001 | Abiola 101,887
Yobe: Tofa 64,061 | Abiola 11,887
A Geopolitical Breakdown: Abiola’s Electoral Dominance
When analyzed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the figures further highlight the depth of Abiola’s national appeal:
– North West (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto)
Tofa: 1,389,640 votes
Abiola: 1,036,991 votes
Outcome: A close contest, but Tofa had a home advantage, narrowly leading in his region.
– North East (Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba)
Tofa: 948,821 votes
Abiola: 747,484 votes
Outcome: Tofa edged out Abiola, but Abiola still secured a strong showing.
– North Central (Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, FCT)
Tofa: 1,031,387 votes
Abiola: 1,333,743 votes
Outcome: Abiola won convincingly in the Middle Belt, a testament to his national reach.
-. South West (Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti [then part of Ondo])
Tofa: 549,528 votes
Abiola: 3,093,891 votes
Outcome: A landslide. The Yoruba heartland overwhelmingly endorsed Abiola, their own.
– South East (Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi [then part of Enugu/Abia])
Tofa: 790,371 votes
Abiola: 739,748 votes
Outcome: A close contest, with Tofa gaining slight leads in some states, but Abiola performed strongly.
– South South (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa [then part of Rivers])
Tofa: 1,242,340 votes
Abiola: 1,307,352 votes
Outcome: A tight race, but Abiola triumphed overall in the oil-rich region.
A Legacy Cemented in Numbers
The 1993 election was more than a contest; it was a testament to Nigeria’s democratic will. The figures tell a story of unity, of a people transcending ethnic and religious divides to vote for competence, vision, and progress. Yet, democracy was stolen that day, and its ramifications still echo in our political evolution.
As history continues to be written, these numbers remain more than just statistics; they are the footprints of a stolen mandate, a lesson for future generations, and a reminder that democracy, once denied, will always find a way to rise again.