Former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, now known as the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, has passed away at the age of 83.
Nwosu, who is best remembered for conducting Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993 election, died in the early hours of Thursday in a Virginia hospital, USA, following a brief illness.
Born on October 2, 1941, in Ajali, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, his death marks the end of an era in Nigeria’s electoral history.
While the family has yet to issue an official statement, a source close to them confirmed the death.
The source stated, “Yes, Prof died this morning in a hospital in Virginia, USA, after a brief illness. The family will soon issue a statement on it.”
Nwosu served as the Chairman of NEC from 1989 until 1993, overseeing the June 12 election, which is widely hailed as the most transparent and credible election in the nation’s post-independence history.
During this election, Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) defeated Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC), but the results were controversially annulled by then-military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida.
This annulment triggered widespread political unrest and set the stage for the country’s prolonged military rule, which only ended in 1999 with the restoration of civilian democracy.
Reacting to his death, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, expressed deep regret that Nwosu died without receiving the recognition he deserved for his pivotal role in Nigeria’s electoral reforms.
The acting National President of Ohanaeze, Chief Damian Ogene, voiced his concerns during an interview, emphasizing that while Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 election, was posthumously honored, Nwosu was never given due credit.
Ogene lamented, “Until his death, no one, including the Federal Government, recognised this man, despite the fact that he put his life on the line to save the country’s democracy. Late Humphrey Nwosu was my brother; we belong to the same Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State and as a matter of fact, he is my kinsman. It is sad that successive administrations in the country never acknowledged him, not even by naming a federal institution after him.”
Ogene highlighted Nwosu’s integrity, noting that “There are others in his position who might have compromised, but he stood his ground and ensured that the electoral wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian masses were realized.”
Reflecting on the lack of national recognition, Ogene remarked, “The neglect of late Humphrey Nwosu until his death is indicative of the fact that the Nigerian civil war has not truly ended. If Nwosu had been from another tribe, he would have been celebrated.”
In recognition of Nwosu’s legacy, Ogene proposed that a National Institute for Political Studies be established and named after the late professor.
He also suggested the institution of an annual lecture series in his honour to ensure that his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy are properly acknowledged and remembered.
“Late Humphrey Nwosu should have a National Institute for Political Studies named after him and a yearly lecture series should be organised in his name,” he said.
During his time as NEC Chairman, Nwosu introduced several innovations aimed at strengthening the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Most notable was the introduction of the Option A4 voting system, which allowed voters to queue openly behind their preferred candidates—a system that earned global recognition for its transparency.
In June 2024, the House of Representatives urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immortalize Nwosu for his pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s democracy, calling the June 12 election the most credible election in the country’s history.
However, this recognition came too late for Nwosu, who had already made his indelible mark on the nation’s political landscape.
