Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993, has passed away at the age of 82.
Nwosu, who played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s electoral history, died in a hospital in Virginia, United States of America.
Born on October 2, 1941, Nwosu was appointed by then military leader General Ibrahim Babangida to oversee Nigeria’s electoral process.
He is best remembered for conducting the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in the country’s history.
That election saw Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) emerge victorious over Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
Nwosu’s NEC introduced the innovative Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system, both of which contributed to the credibility of the election.
However, Nwosu was ordered by the Babangida regime to stop announcing the election results after many had already been released. The election was subsequently annulled, leading to widespread protests and political turmoil in Nigeria.
In July 2024, the Nigerian House of Representatives called on President Bola Tinubu to immortalize Nwosu for his significant role in conducting the June 12, 1993 election, which remains a crucial moment in Nigeria’s post-independence democratic journey.
Prof. Nwosu’s contributions to Nigeria’s electoral system have continued to shape the nation’s democratic processes, and his legacy remains a symbol of transparency and fairness in governance.