A member of the Media and Strategic Communications Directorate of President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Segun Sowunmi, has said that the late Chief MKO Abiola committed treason when he declared himself president after the June 12, 1993 election.
Sowunmi made the statement while reacting to claims by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that it will independently collate and publish polling-unit results during the 2027 general elections.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the ADC had said it would document results through its polling agents and make verified figures available to the public.
But speaking during a press briefing, Sowunmi, in a video circulating online, said, “I have heard some people saying they are going to release results. The laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are very strict, and anybody who attempts to declare himself anything will be tried for treason,” he said.
He referenced the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history, which was won by Chief MKO Abiola but was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
According to Sowunmi, even Abiola, with all his reputation and popular mandate from the June 12 election, was not spared when he declared himself president after the annulment crisis.
“I can’t find anyone among them who has MKO Abiola’s reputation, and when he (Abiola) dared to declare himself president without being properly declared, of course, he was thrown in jail,” Sowunmi said.
He noted that Abiola’s declaration led to his arrest and detention.
Sowunmi therefore cautioned the ADC and other parties making similar threats to release election results, insisting that such action amounts to treason.
He maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains the only authority empowered by law to declare election results.
“The only authority that has the power to declare election results is INEC,” he added.
The post June 12: Abiola Committed Treason and Was Thrown In Jail – Tinubu Campaign Spokesperson appeared first on OsunDefender.
