Atiku Reveals How Yar’Adua Ordered Him to Step Down for MKO Abiola

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has disclosed that his late political mentor, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, instructed him to step down for MKO Abiola during the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries ahead of the 1993 presidential election.

Atiku made this revelation in an interview with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie on Untold Stories, where he clarified the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal from the race.

Addressing past misconceptions, Atiku explained that Yar’Adua was reluctant to travel to Jos, where the primaries were held, but he urged him to come, warning that Babagana Kingibe was likely to win if he did not intervene.

“I told him, ‘Look, if you don’t come to Jos, there is every likelihood that Kingibe is going to be elected, and I know you don’t want it. So you better come to Jos, no matter how late.’”

According to Atiku, Yar’Adua eventually drove from Kaduna to Jos, arriving in the early hours of the morning. He then held a private meeting with MKO Abiola at Ambassador Kwande’s house, the details of which Atiku was not privy to.

However, during a subsequent meeting, Yar’Adua simply told him:
“Turaki.” I said, “Yes, sir.” He said, “Step down for MKO Abiola.” I said, “Okay, sir. I have stepped down.”

Despite Abiola’s victory in the election, it was later annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB). In February 2025, Babangida expressed regret for annulling the election, acknowledging that it was one of Nigeria’s most free, fair, and credible elections.