South-East Senators Turn to Tinubu as Senate Rejects Prof. Nwosu’s Immortalization Plea
The Senate’s Southeast caucus has urged President Bola Tinubu to honor the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), by immortalizing his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy.
This appeal follows the Senate’s rejection of a motion before it earlier during Thursday’s plenary to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after Prof. Nwosu and to confer upon him a national honor.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, (APGA, Abia State) sponsored the motion, emphasizing Prof. Nwosu’s pivotal role in conducting the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most credible electoral exercises. Despite a heated debate, the motion was declined, with some senators arguing that Prof. Nwosu’s inability to announce the election results during his tenure diminished his eligibility for such honors. Nonetheless, the Senate observed a minute’s silence in his memory.
Undeterred by the Senate’s decision, the Southeast caucus addressed journalists, expressing their belief that President Tinubu, recognized as a ‘June 12 warrior,’ would appreciate the significance of Prof. Nwosu’s contributions and consider bestowing posthumous recognition. They highlighted that without Prof. Nwosu’s determination and courage, the June 12 election would not have taken place, laying the foundation for Nigeria’s current democratic journey.
In addition to the Southeast caucus, various coalitions and political figures have called for Prof. Nwosu’s immortalization. The Coalition for the Immortalization of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu has appealed to President Tinubu to confer a national honor, such as the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON), and to rename the INEC headquarters in his memory. Similarly, Chief Chekwas Okorie, founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has advocated for naming the INEC headquarters after Prof. Nwosu, acknowledging his role in overseeing Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.
As the nation prepares for Prof. Nwosu’s burial in his hometown in Anambra State, these appeals underscore a collective desire to honor a man whose efforts significantly shaped Nigeria’s democratic landscape.