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| 1993 |
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| Elections were held, employing the two-party system created by the government; the presidential race offered two handpicked candidates. Moshood Abiola, a Yoruba businessman, apparently won the election, but Babangida annulled the returns. Massive protests took place in Nigeria, and a general strike was called. Babangida was overthrown by Gen. Sani Abacha. | 1 |
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| 1994, June 11 |
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| Moshood Abiola declared himself president of Nigeria, defying Sani Abacha, the current ruler. Abiola was arrested for treason on July 6, a major setback for democracy. | 2 |
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| 1996, Oct |
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| Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were sentenced to death. They were executed on Nov. 10 despite pleas from the British Commonwealth and from South Africa. Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth as a result. | 3 |
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| June |
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| Kudriat Abiola, wife of Moshood Abiola and a prominent critic of the Abacha military government, was killed by unidentified assailants. | 4 |
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