By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Yesterday, the South-East Caucus of the Nigerian Senate expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would immortalise Prof Humphrey Nwosu, the late Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC).
The South-East federal lawmakers stated this when they addressed journalists after the Senate rejected their proposal to name the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after him.
The Red Chamber also rejected a prayer in Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s motion seeking that the professor of political science be bestowed with a national honour.
However, the South-East Senators, undeterred by the defeat suffered by their motion on the floor of the Senate, said being a Democrat and one of the main actors in the June 12th 1993 struggle, Tinubu will honour Nwosu,
Speaking on behalf of the Caucus, Abaribe (Abia South) urged the President to take decisive action in honouring the late Nwosu, who was the man behind Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The lawmakers insisted that since Tinubu has been at the forefront of the June 12 struggle, he must ensure that Nwosu is given the recognition he deserves.
He also drew Tinubu’s attention to the fact that another former chairman of the electoral umpire, Prof Mahmood Jega, was the first to appeal for Nwosu to be honoured.
A fierce rejection greeted Abaribe’s attempt to present the motion on the floor on Wednesday.
Not deterred by the rejection, Abaribe yesterday came with a motion on recession, coming under Order 52 (C). He represented the Motion.
Abaribe observed that as Chairman of the defunct NEC, Nwosu conducted what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election. Chief MKO Abiola won, but General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime controversially annulled it.
He sought Senate approval to honour Nwosu.
He proposed, among other things, that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be renamed after the late.
However, when Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau put the prayers to a vote, they were overwhelmingly rejected.
During yesterday’s heated deliberations, senators took contrasting positions on Nwosu’s historical place.
Senator Osita Ngwu defended the former NEC chairman.
He argued that Nwosu was operating under a military regime and was constrained in announcing the election results.
“There was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change that some of us see him as a hero,” Ngwu insisted.
Senator Austin Akobundu also condemned attempts to downplay Nwosu’s contributions, calling it “most uncharitable” to dismiss the man who organised one of Nigeria’s most credible elections.
However, others vehemently opposed immortalising Nwosu, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea.
He stated that the former electoral Chairman failed in his duty.
“Nothing should be named after him. He did not announce the result, and that singular failure invalidates any honour,” Ibrahim argued.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi echoed similar sentiments, asserting that “history does not reward efforts, but only results.”
He said, “As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him.”
Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for failing to show courage in defending the integrity of the election.
Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that recognising Nwosu in such a manner could diminish the legacy of MKO Abiola, the presumed election winner.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” Salisu declared.
After intense debate, the motion was again put to a voice vote, and most senators rejected it.
The Senate agreed to observe a one-minute silence in honour of Nwosu and extend condolences to his family.
Despite the motion’s rejection, the debate reflects an ongoing national conversation on how best to recognise the figures behind the June 12 election.
While some believe Nwosu deserved to be honoured for his role, others argue that history should only reward those who saw their duties through to completion.
The Senate’s rejection of the motion has drawn mixed reactions, with some lawmakers arguing that Nwosu’s contributions to Nigeria’s electoral system are undeniable and should be formally recognised.
