By
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
A mild protest erupted at the Senate on Thursday as lawmakers from the Southeast staged a walkout following the rejection of a motion seeking to immortalize the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the electoral umpire who oversaw Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The motion, sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), sought official recognition of Nwosu’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy, including a posthumous national honor. However, when the motion was subjected to a voice vote, the Senate rejected all proposed resolutions except for observing a minute’s silence in his honor.
Professor Nwosu served as the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993, conducting what is still widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election. The poll, which saw Chief Moshood Abiola emerging as the presumed winner, was annulled by the military regime, plunging Nigeria into political turmoil.
While the government later recognized June 12 as Democracy Day and honored Abiola posthumously, Nwosu’s role in the electoral process has remained largely unrecognized. The motion sought to correct this omission by ensuring his name is etched in Nigeria’s history.
Angered by the rejection of the motion, Southeast senators walked out of the plenary in protest. Addressing journalists at a press conference shortly after, they criticized the decision, arguing that the legacy of June 12 is incomplete without due recognition of the man who conducted the election.
Senator Abaribe lamented what he described as selective recognition of democracy heroes. “How can we honor June 12 without honoring the man who made it possible? Professor Nwosu stood firm in the face of military pressure, yet history is choosing to forget him,” he stated.
Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West) echoed this sentiment, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally intervene. “The current administration is a direct beneficiary of the democratic struggles that followed June 12. It is only right that President Tinubu corrects this oversight by ensuring Nwosu is properly honored,” Izunaso said.
Despite the Senate’s rejection, the Southeast caucus is now appealing directly to President Tinubu to take executive action. They are urging him to confer a posthumous national award on Nwosu and ensure that his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy are not erased.
While Southeast senators pushed for Nwosu’s recognition, some lawmakers opposed the motion, citing his inability to announce the full election results before the military’s intervention. “If he had gone ahead to announce the results, history might have been different,” one senator argued during the debate.
Others, however, insisted that Nwosu did his best under the difficult circumstances of military rule. “We must understand the limitations he faced. He followed due process, and his work laid the foundation for today’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),”so the right must be done” said Senator Abdullahi yahaya
With the Senate’s refusal to adopt the motion, the ball is now in the president’s court. If Tinubu heeds the call of the Southeast lawmakers, Nwosu could finally receive national recognition. Otherwise, his contributions may remain in the shadows of Nigeria’s political history.
For now, the Southeast caucus remains resolute, insisting that history must be fair to all who played a role in shaping Nigeria’s democracy.
“This is not just about the Southeast; it is about justice and fairness. If we truly respect democracy, we must acknowledge all its heroes,” Abaribe emphasized.
As the debate rages on, Nigerians will be watching to see whether the man who oversaw the country’s most credible election will finally receive the honor many believe he deserves.
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