The Coalition for the Immortalisation of Prof. Humphrey Nwosu has called on the Federal Government to honour the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission for his instrumental role in overseeing the historic June 12, 1993, election.
The group is advocating for the recognition of Nwosu, who they describe as a “global scholar” and a “renowned political scientist,” for his outstanding contribution to Nigeria’s democracy.
The coalition made this call at a press conference held at the Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The Executive Director of the Citizens Network for Stability & Justice, Collins Ugwu, led the press briefing.
He was joined by Mazi Maduka, a Public Affairs and Policy Analyst, and Chief Everest Ezenwoke, South West Coordinator of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Ugwu emphasised the importance of honouring Nwosu, who passed away in October 2024 at the age of 83.
His burial is scheduled for March 28, 2025, in his hometown of Ajali, Orumba Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Nwosu, who chaired the NEC from 1989 to 1993, oversaw the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was annulled by former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.
The election is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, with late Chief M.K.O. Abiola believed to have won.
“We are convinced that a man of Prof. Nwosu’s untainted eminence, fearless courage, and unmatched performance deserves a solemn retelling of his immense contributions to make Nigeria better through transparent and credible elections,” Ugwu stated. “He possessed the most profound integrity, and his acceptability remains unrivaled.”
Ugwu highlighted the challenging political climate in which Nwosu operated.
He described how Nwosu, despite significant political pressure and threats, stood firm in declaring Abiola the winner of the election.
Ugwu also praised Nwosu for rejecting numerous temptations of corruption, recalling how he returned over N500m of unspent funds to the government.
“It is tragic irony that despite his remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s electoral process, Nwosu never fully recovered from the fallout of the annulled election,” Ugwu lamented. “He was a victim of the very system he helped create, and it is time the nation recognizes him.”
The coalition called on the government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, to confer national honours on Nwosu.
Ugwu urged, “We respectfully call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider granting Prof. Humphrey Nwosu the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) or Commander of the Federal Republic for his selfless dedication to Nigeria’s democratic process.”
The group proposed several ways to immortalise Nwosu’s legacy, including naming a national monument after him, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Abuja, or dedicating a prominent road or National Freedom Park in his honor.
They further called on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, to act in a manner befitting Nwosu’s status.
“We urge him to take decisive action, as both a professor and governor, to honour Nwosu’s legacy,” Ugwu said, noting that Soludo was a colleague of Nwosu at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Ugwu expressed hope that the current administration would acknowledge the monumental role Nwosu played in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
“Prof. Nwosu was a beacon of candor and integrity. He humanized our election process in a way no one has since matched,” Ugwu stated. “We must restore the values that made INEC a credible institution under his leadership and honor the legacy of one of our true democratic pioneers.”
The coalition urged Nigerians to rally behind this cause, ensuring that the country’s democracy truly reflects the contributions of those who have shaped it.