Judge Who Annulled MKO Abiola’s Election Dies

Justice Dahiru Saleh, who annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election has died.

He died on Thursday, May 7, in Azare, Bauchi state after a brief illness.

Prior to his death, he was the “Mutawalle” of Katagum emirate in Bauchi.

As the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, he annulled the June 12, 1993 election, an election adjudged as one of the most credible in the history of the country.

The election was supposedly won by MKO Abiola, the Social Democratic Party candidate who was leading Bashir Tofa, his National Republican Convention rival by a wide margin.

However, the exercise was cancelled ahead of the final announcement of results. Abiola was later arrested by the regime of Abacha and he died in detention.