Babangida's tenure as head of state from 1985 to 1993 was marked by series of controversies including the execution of his close friend and colleague, Mamman Vatsa for coup plot and his seemingly endless transitions to civil rule programmes that culminated in the annulment of 12, June 1993 presidential election won by late Moshood Abiola. The agitations that followed the annulment of the election that is still being described as the freest and fairest to be conducted in the country forced Babangida to step aside from power in 1993.