The longest and most expensive military transition programme in Nigeria was under

Answer Details

The longest and most expensive military transition programme in Nigeria was conducted under General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), who ruled from 1985 to 1993. His transition programme spanned approximately eight years and consumed enormous financial resources.

Babangida's transition programme involved multiple stages: the creation of two government-sponsored political parties (the Social Democratic Party and the National Republican Convention), local government elections, state elections, a Constituent Assembly, and ultimately a presidential election held on June 12, 1993. Despite the massive investment of time and money, Babangida annulled the June 12 election results, which were widely believed to have been won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola, plunging Nigeria into a political crisis.

By comparison, the Murtala/Obasanjo transition (1975-1979) lasted about four years and successfully handed over to a civilian government. Abdulsalami Abubakar's transition (1998-1999) was the shortest at less than one year. General Gowon's regime (1966-1975) had a transition promise but it was never implemented, leading to the coup that removed him.