Abiola, Moshood Kastumawo (1937–1998)

Nigerian politician, president in 1993. First elected to parliament as a National Party member in 1979, he won the 1993 presidential elections as the Social Democratic Party candidate, but was arrested and charged with treason following a military coup. After spending a year in prison his detention was declared illegal but the election result remained invalid. He died as his release was being negotiated.

Abiola was born at Abeokuta in Ogun state, and educated at the local Baptist Boys High School and at the University of Glasgow. He initially pursued a career in accountancy, mainly in public and private publishing companies, and he continued his interests in publishing and telecommunications after entering politics.