This constituted the Second Republic. The civilian government was deemed incapable of tackling the country’s economic problems and was overthrown by a military coup on 31 December 1983. The military government then suspended the constitution of 1979, and this state of affairs persisted until 1999. 46 85. Major General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the leader of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), the country’s new ruling body. The Buhari government also failed to deal adequately with the economic problems and was peacefully overthrown in August 1985. The SMC’s third-ranking member, Army Chief of Staff Major General Ibrahim Babangida, took the helm with a pledge to return the country to civilian rule. 86. In early 1989, a constituent assembly completed its work on a constitution for the Third Republic. In April 1990, there was a failed attempt to overthrow the Babangida government. The 69 persons accused of plotting the coup were executed and transition resumed, with the holding of local-governmentlevel elections in December 1990, and gubernatorial and state legislative elections in December 1991. After hiccups in August and September of 1992, presidential elections were finally held on 12 June 1993. 87. The inauguration of the new president was scheduled to take place on 27 August 1993, the eighth anniversary of President Babangida’s coming to power. This was, however, not to be, as the military president, citing irregularities, annulled the results of the 12 June elections which were widely believed to have been won by wealthy Yoruba businessman, MKO Abiola. This plunged Nigeria into a deep crisis, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 persons in riots. 88. To forestall further catastrophe, Babangida was forced to hand over power to an interim government under Ernest Shonekan, who was also from the southwest. Although he had led Babangida’s Transitional Council since early 1993, Shonekan was unable to reverse Nigeria’s ever-growing economic problems or to defuse lingering political tension. With the country sliding into chaos, Defence Minister Sani Abacha swiftly took over power, forcing Shonekan’s resignation on 17 November 1993. Abacha installed a military government, dismantling all political structures. His repressive rule rapidly fostered nationwide disillusionment from all sectors, causing dissension and agitation among all segments of civil society, including the labour unions, political parties, journalists and activists. President Abacha, in turn, clamped down on all opposition forces. 89. On 11 June 1994, Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 1993 presidential elections, declared himself president. Abiola was arrested and imprisoned on 23 June 1994. In 1995, 40 military officers and civilians were alleged to be engaged in a coup plot, including former head of state, Obasanjo, and his deputy, retired General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. After being tried by a secret tribunal, most of the accused were convicted and several death sentences handed down. 90. The foregoing developments – the nullification of the elections; the imprisonment of Abiola, the alleged coup plotters and other activists for