The Nigerian Senate has rejected a motion that sought to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in honor of the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) late Humphrey Nwosu, who oversaw the controversial June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The motion, initially introduced on Wednesday and re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday, called for posthumous national honors to be conferred on Nwosu for his significant role in Nigeria’s democratic development. However, the proposal sparked a heated debate among lawmakers, leading to a division of opinions on Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged the difficult circumstances under which Nwosu operated, noting that he was under a military regime that restricted his ability to announce the election results. Despite this, Ngwu and others saw him as a hero of democracy.
However, other senators, including Austin Akobundu, expressed support for honoring Nwosu’s contributions, arguing that he deserved recognition for his role in the electoral process. On the contrary, several senators, including Jimoh Ibrahim and Cyril Fasuyi, opposed the idea, citing Nwosu’s failure to announce the election results as a critical flaw. Fasuyi argued that history rewards results, not efforts, while Ibrahim questioned why the Senate would honor someone who did not fulfill his duty.
Senator Sunday Karimi and Senator Afolabi Salisu also criticized Nwosu for not speaking out against the annulment of the election, with Salisu warning that honoring him could diminish the legacy of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12 election.
After a vote, most senators rejected the motion, though they agreed to honor Nwosu with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the proposal to immortalize him further.
