Chief Ernest Shonekan replaced Babangida. Shonekan's main focus was to oversee local elections in late 1993 and presidential elections early in 1994. But even as the new government worked to plan the elections, differences within the government quickly emerged. The divisions came to a head on November 17, 1993, when Shonekan's vice president -- and before that, Babangida's defense minister -- General Sani Abacha, overthrew him.