The Nigerian Senate has once again dismissed a motion seeking to rename the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu, the former chairman of the now-defunct National Electoral Commission, oversaw the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was later annulled by the military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The motion was put forward by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who had previously presented it a day earlier, only for it to be rejected by lawmakers. On Thursday, Abaribe reintroduced the proposal, urging the Senate to posthumously honor Nwosu for his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Abaribe stressed that Nwosu played a key role in shaping the nation’s electoral history and should be recognized for his service. However, the motion once again sparked strong reactions among lawmakers, leading to a divided debate on Nwosu’s legacy and his impact on Nigeria’s democracy.
During the discussions, Senator Osita Ngwu noted that Nwosu had no choice but to operate within the limits of the military government under which he served. Ngwu defended Nwosu, stating, “There was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
On the other hand, Senator Austin Akobundu insisted that dismissing Nwosu’s contributions was unfair. He argued that the late electoral chief deserved national recognition for his role in organizing the 1993 election, which many Nigerians still regard as one of the country’s most credible polls.
