MKO Abiola - The Times of Abuja

Doyin Abiola, first female editor and wife of MKO Abiola, dies at 82

TheTimesOfAbuja — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:17:15 +0000

Doyin Abiola, the first female editor of a Nigerian daily newspaper and wife of late Concord publisher and June 12, 1993, presidential election winner, MKO Abiola, is dead.

She reportedly passed away at 9:15 pm on Tuesday, August 5, after an undisclosed illness, according to multiple reports quoting family sources.

A towering figure in Nigerian journalism, Doyin Abiola broke multiple barriers in her career. She rose to become the managing director and editor-in-chief of the defunct National Concord newspaper, which was owned by her husband.

She was widely respected for her pioneering contributions to the media and her resilience during the political turmoil that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election — a period that tested her both professionally and personally.

Born in 1943, she earned a degree in English and Drama from the University of Ibadan in 1969 and began her journalism career at the Daily Sketch, where her column Tiro gained popularity for addressing public concerns, especially gender equity.

She later moved to the United States, where she obtained a master’s degree in journalism and a Ph.D. in Communications and Political Science from New York University in 1979.

Upon returning to Nigeria, she joined the Daily Times as a Features Writer and rose to become Group Features Editor. She also served on its editorial board alongside the likes of Stanley Macebuh, Dele Giwa, and Amma Ogan.

In 1980, she became the pioneer editor of the newly launched National Concord, eventually rising to the position of managing director in 1986. She married Chief MKO Abiola in 1981 and stood by him through the turbulent years that followed his political aspirations and incarceration.

Beyond journalism, Doyin Abiola served the media industry in numerous ways. She chaired the nomination panel of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and was a member of the advisory council of the faculty of social and management sciences at Ogun State University.

She received multiple honours in her lifetime, including the Eisenhower Fellowship in 1986 and the DAME Lifetime Achievement Award — becoming only the second woman to receive the latter after Omobola Onajide.

She leaves behind a legacy of courage, professionalism, and excellence in journalism.

The post Doyin Abiola, first female editor and wife of MKO Abiola, dies at 82 first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Abiola’s son: IBB apologised over annulment of June 12 to our family in private

Theo Francis — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:17:25 +0000

Lekan Abiola, one of the sons of the late MKO Abiola, says fomer military President Ibrahim Babangida apologised to the family for annulling the 1993 presidential election, believed to be won by his father

Lekan spoke in Lagos on Thursday, during the MKO Abiola memorial symposium and preparations for the launch of a book, “MKO Abiola: Symbol of Democracy”.

Lekan said the family felt a sense of relief following Babangida’s public acknowledgement and apology.

“We returned from the United States of America, we have met IBB, and he has apologised privately to us,” he said.

“When he came out publicly to say that he was sorry for annulling the election and that MKO won the election, he did what he had done privately in public.

“Every year, he always sends someone to come and represent him here on the June 12 occasion.”

Lekan emphasised the symbolic significance of the public apology, describing it as long overdue.

“Before now, for the private apology, there was nothing we could do about that. It is as though someone punched you in public and said sorry in private,” he added.

He said Babangida’s public acknowledgement helped to dispel long-standing scepticism and disagreement about the validity of MKO Abiola’s electoral triumph.

“For him to come out publicly to admit that MKO did win the election, makes us feel at ease publicly,” he said.

“This is because some people are always saying: ‘Are we even sure he won the election?’

“But now, he (Babangida) has released the full results. Officially, it is now known that MKO won the election, and that is no longer a controversy.”

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After 32 years, IBB admits MKO Abiola won June 12 presidential election

TheTimesOfAbuja — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:42:23 +0000

For the first time since the annulment of June 12 presidential election held in 1993, former military president Ibrahim Babangida has admitted that the late MKO Abiola won the poll.

The late MKO Abiola was the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and ran against Bashir Tofar of the National Republican Convention (NRC) at the time.

In his autobiography, “A Journey in Service”, which was presented in Abuja on Thursday, Babangida said the ” June 12 saga was undeniable the most challenging moment of my life”.

Babangida was the Nigerian head of state when the June 12 presidential election, believed to be most free and fair poll in the history of the country was conducted.

But he would later annul the results of the election widely believed to have been won by the late business mongul, MKO Abiola.

In his book, IBB admitted that June 12 saga was one of the most challenging moments of his life.

“And in certain respects, one of the most painful. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it differently,” former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who reviewed the book, quoted Babangida to have written.

“There is a full page devoted to the transition from military rule to democracy and the June 12 saga,” Osinbajo added.

“June 12 was a decision with cataclysmic consequences. It was the annulment of what has been said to be the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history.

“The annulment led to a military interregnum considered one of the most vicious in Nigeria’s history. The eventual death of the acclaimed winner of the election and his wife.

For the first time, he tells us who annulled the June 12 election and puts the facts out there. He gives his own reasons for the actions that he took, and he admits where he believes he was wrong. He also answers the question whether Abiola won the June 12 election.

“And I quote him: ‘Alhough I’m on record to have admitted after the election that Abiola may have not won the election, upon deeper reflections, and a close examination of all available facts, particularly, the detailed election results which I published as an appendix to this book.

“There was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 election. Upon closer examination of the original collated figures from the 110 polling booths in the country, it was clear that he satisfied the two main constitutional requirements for winning the presidential election; mainly the majority votes and the geographical spread, having obtained 8,128,720 votes against Tofa’s 5,84,8247 votes and securing the mandatory one third of the vote cast in 28 states of the federation, including Abuja.

I’m gratified that the Buhari administration finally recognised him as a former head of state of Nigeria.”

“Looking back now, the June 12 saga was undeniable the most challenging moment of my life and in certain respects, one of the most painful. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it differently.”

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