President Tinubu to host MKO documentary premiere

President Bola Tinubu will serve as the chief host for the national premiere of ‘MKO’, a documentary chronicling the June 12, 1993, presidential election in Nigeria, its subsequent annulment, and the ensuing political struggle. Produced by filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, the documentary is scheduled to premiere at the National Theatre in Lagos on October 1, coinciding with Nigeria’s Independence Day, followed by a nationwide cinema release on October 2.

The film details the life and political impact of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a businessman and politician central to the 1993 election, and the crisis that continued until his death in detention in 1998. It features archival footage and accounts from significant figures, including former military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.

Prior to the Nigerian premiere, a preview will be held on September 23 at American University in Washington, D.C. The event, titled ‘Democracy Denied: Nigeria’s Annulled 1993 Election and Its Lasting Legacies’, will facilitate discussions regarding the democratic legacy of the annulment and its lessons for modern electoral institutions.