Oyamendan's Documentary "MKO" Premieres October 1, 2026

Filmmaker Ose Oyamendan's documentary "MKO" is set for its Nigerian premiere on October 1, 2026, coinciding with Nigeria's Independence Day. The 108-minute documentary, which had its world premiere at Sheffield DocFest 2026 in the United Kingdom, examines the life, political struggle, and controversial death of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The film delves into Abiola's detention and the circumstances surrounding his death in custody on July 7, 1998, while meeting a US delegation. Oyamendan, a former journalist with Weekend Concord during the June 12 crisis, utilizes archival material and interviews with key figures, including former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.

The documentary aims to investigate the unresolved circumstances of Abiola's death without presenting an unsupported verdict, framing the narrative within Nigeria's broader political history.