A motion which sought to name the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu collapsed yesterday at the Senate.
Prof. Nwosu was chairman of National Electoral Commission (NEC), the precursor to INEC.
He conducted the 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola, but which was annulled by the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
The motion titled: “Motion to Immortalise Prof. Humphrey Nwosu” was sponsored by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia South) during plenary.
Abaribe, in his lead debate, said the motion was supported by all senators from the Southeast, as well as the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta North) and Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi Central) among others.
He urged the Senate to immortalise the late Nwosu by naming the INEC headquarters building after him and to posthumously honour him with a national award.
He called on the Senate to extend official condolences to his family in recognition of their sacrifice in supporting his work for a better Nigeria.
“Mr President, I propose that we observe a minute of silence in honour of Prof. Nwosu, given that his burial is tomorrow (today)”.
Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, put the prayers to a voice vote but was greeted with a resounding ‘Nay’.
The only prayer that was observed was a minute silence for the deceased Nwosu.
Before the voice vote, Abaribe said: “His unwavering commitment to electoral integrity played a key role in establishing June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day.
“Additionally, we note that Nwosu laid a strong foundation for the present-day Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Sadly, he passed away on Oct. 20, 2024, at the age of 83 and will be buried tomorrow (today) in his hometown in Anambra”.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo North) said: “The election that was conducted on June 12, 1993, Nigerians were really in pain because nobody was able to quote where Prof. Nwosu announced the results.
“We cannot distort history in this unit. We must be seen to have sentiments that reflect the feeling of an average Nigerian.
“Prof. Nwosu, when it mattered most, his courage failed him”.
Senators. Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo) said: “Mr President, it is important that we will not sit here to distort history. We are legislators, and we are representing the people.
“Get a cross section of Nigerians and ask them what they think about Prof. Nwosu, they will tell you he was a hero.”
“So for us to sit here now and begin to distort history is not fair for our democracy”.
Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun) said “This is one issue I have tried as much as possible to avoid.
“Mr President, many of my colleagues have pulled up here and said he conducted the freest and fairest election.
“There are three different meanings and three different expectations that we should look at…
“Conducting elections, releasing results and announcing results. Yes, he conducted the election; yes, Prof. Nwosu released the result. But you and I know, releasing results is not the same thing as announcing results.
“He failed at the critical moment when he was supposed to save this democracy”.
Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, hailed his colleagues in the manner the debate was conducted
“You did very well. You martialed out your points. You said your views. And no rancour at all. And this is how debate should be in an August institution like the Senate.
“I subscribe to all these. I have my view. But I try not to be partial. I believe in June 12,” he said.
Southeast Caucus kicks
After failing to get the motion passed, Sen. Abaribe said the Southeast Caucus was not happy with Senate’s rejection of the move to immortalise the late Prof Nwosu.
Abaribe said: “We came here (Senate Press Centre) just to make a brief statement after the vote that was taken on the floor with regard to our motion to immortalise Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
“We had three prayers. The first prayer, which was for the Senate to recommend to the executive that given the fact that Prof Humphrey Nwosu was the person who actually laid the foundation of the present INEC headquarters and commenced the building before that particular NEC was dissolved by the military in 1993.”
“We felt that we should recommend that the executive names that INEC building after him.
“This is also in consonance with what Prof Attahiru Jega, a former INEC chairman said on Tuesday at the colloquium for Prof Humphrey Nwosu, he was surprised that up to this moment Humphrey Nwosu has not been recognised or honoured by the government of Nigeria who today are benefiting from his plans and the legacy of conducting the freest and fairest election in the country.
“We also had another prayer that even if they don’t do that, that they should also honour Prof Nwosu by giving him a national honour which was also rejected.
“But we are not deterred. The reason is simple. It may be delayed, but it will not be denied.
“We seize this opportunity to specifically appeal to President Bola Tinubu to immortalise the NEC Chairman,” Abaribe said.
Senator Ned Nwoko joined the Senators from Southeast at the news conference.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo: Senate’s action laughable
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide yesterday condemned the Senate’s decision to reject the motion to recognize the late Prof. Nwosu.
The organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu described the Senate’s action as “laughable” and “unfortunate.”
He said: “It is so laughable that Nigeria today talks of June 12 without the principal pilot of that process, Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
“It is so unfortunate that the Senate could not do the needful by honouring this uncommon statesman who has paid a model high price in the history of Nigerian Democracy.”
The organisation therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accord the late Nwosu “the honour he deserves for the sake of justice”.
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