For the second time, the Senate has rejected a motion seeking to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission Headquarters after the late Humphrey Nwosu, Professor and former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, who conducted the annulled June 12, 1993, Presidential Election.
The motion, reintroduced by Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after being dismissed a day earlier, also called for a posthumous national honour in recognition of Nwosu’s role in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
However, the proposal sparked intense debate among lawmakers, who remained divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Osita Ngwu defended Nwosu, noting that he operated under a Military Regime that prevented him from announcing the election results. “There was no way he could have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero,” he argued.
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Similarly, Austin Akobundu insisted it was unfair to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, urging lawmakers to acknowledge his impact on Nigeria’s electoral history.
Conversely, several senators, including Jimoh Ibrahim, opposed the motion outright. Ibrahim questioned why the Senate should honour someone who failed to declare the election results, stating, “nothing should be named after him.”
Cyril Fasuyi reinforced this stance, asserting that history rewards results, not efforts. “As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he said.
Sunday Karimi also criticised Nwosu for his silence, while Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him could diminish the legacy of MKO Abiola, the widely recognised winner of the election. “Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he maintained.
Folloing heated deliberations, the Senate rejected the motion through a voice vote. However, lawmakers agreed to observe a one-minute silence in Nwosu’s honour and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing calls to immortalise him.
