TRIBUTE: INEC Advocates for Posthumous National Honor on Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu

By James Agbor

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has called on appreciate authority to confer a Posthumous National honour to the former Chairman of the commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the seventh Chairman of the national election management body in Nigeria who conducted the annulled 1993 Presidential election, he passed on five months ago in the Month of October 2024.

Professor Mahmood made the call today on the occasion of the afternoon of Tributes in honor of the former Chairman of the Commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja .

Addressing the gathering, which included Nwosu’s family members, friends, and colleagues, Professor Yakubu emphasized the significant contributions of the late professor to Nigeria’s democratic process.

He said the 1993 election was describe as the best in the history of the nation’s electoral process which declared Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe as winners of the election.

“Professor Nwosu’s four years as Chairman of NEC (1989 to 1993) now define his public service career and even persona. Like all his six predecessors and seven successors to date, he had the arduous task of managing elections in an extremely challenging context.

“He introduced many innovations in election management. In physical terms, he laid the foundation for the independence of the Commission by initiating the current three-layer structure for the commission with offices at national, state and local government levels.

“He also introduced a number of reforms to election management. His tenure is synonymous with the Open Ballot System popularly referred to as Option A4 in which voters queued up behind the symbol of the party of their choice to vote and to be physically counted. ” he sid

The recognition and honoring of Professor Nwosu’s contributions are seen by many as a crucial step in acknowledging the efforts of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of democratic excellence in Nigeria.

“Professor Nwosu did his best which was not always appreciated by many, including those who appointed him under an infinite transition from military rule to democracy which ended in the annulment of the presidential election held in 1993, resulting in the dissolution of the electoral commission and the emergence of an interim government. However, with the passage of time, the outcome of his effort is now widely appreciated. The election is now celebrated as one of the best in Nigeria. Even those who annulled it have expressed regret.

“A quarter of a century (25 years) later in June 2018, the presumed winner of the 1993 Presidential election, Chief M. K. O. Abiola, received the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), posthumously. His running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, was conferred with the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The date of the election (June 12th, 1993) has been gazetted as a national holiday and appropriately named as Democracy Day.

“Sadly, the electoral commission that conducted the election which was personified by Professor Nwosu received only a muffled commendation as if no one conducted the election. Surely, the election did not conduct itself. It was organised by a Commission made up of Commissioners and a Chairman. If it was an oversight that Professor Nwosu was not honoured in his lifetime, it is never late for the appropriate authority to do so posthumously.

“For us in INEC, we will continue to appreciate Professor Nwosu and the dedicated service he rendered to the nation. For the family, Professor Nwosu’s four years at the electoral commission must have been extremely challenging. With faith in God and knowing the caliber of person he was, you stood by him. We commend you and may God continue to give you the strength to bear the colossal loss. “he said.

Professor Nwosu’s family has earlier announced that his burial will take place on March 28, 2025, in his hometown of Ajalli, Anambra State.

By James Agbor

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has called on appreciate authority to confer a Posthumous National honour to the former Chairman of the commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the seventh Chairman of the national election management body in Nigeria who conducted the annulled 1993 Presidential election, he passed on five months ago in the Month of October 2024.

Professor Mahmood made the call today on the occasion of the afternoon of Tributes in honor of the former Chairman of the Commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja .

Addressing the gathering, which included Nwosu’s family members, friends, and colleagues, Professor Yakubu emphasized the significant contributions of the late professor to Nigeria’s democratic process.

He said the 1993 election was describe as the best in the history of the nation’s electoral process which declared Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe as winners of the election.

“Professor Nwosu’s four years as Chairman of NEC (1989 to 1993) now define his public service career and even persona. Like all his six predecessors and seven successors to date, he had the arduous task of managing elections in an extremely challenging context.

“He introduced many innovations in election management. In physical terms, he laid the foundation for the independence of the Commission by initiating the current three-layer structure for the commission with offices at national, state and local government levels.

“He also introduced a number of reforms to election management. His tenure is synonymous with the Open Ballot System popularly referred to as Option A4 in which voters queued up behind the symbol of the party of their choice to vote and to be physically counted. ” he sid

The recognition and honoring of Professor Nwosu’s contributions are seen by many as a crucial step in acknowledging the efforts of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of democratic excellence in Nigeria.

“Professor Nwosu did his best which was not always appreciated by many, including those who appointed him under an infinite transition from military rule to democracy which ended in the annulment of the presidential election held in 1993, resulting in the dissolution of the electoral commission and the emergence of an interim government. However, with the passage of time, the outcome of his effort is now widely appreciated. The election is now celebrated as one of the best in Nigeria. Even those who annulled it have expressed regret.

“A quarter of a century (25 years) later in June 2018, the presumed winner of the 1993 Presidential election, Chief M. K. O. Abiola, received the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), posthumously. His running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, was conferred with the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The date of the election (June 12th, 1993) has been gazetted as a national holiday and appropriately named as Democracy Day.

“Sadly, the electoral commission that conducted the election which was personified by Professor Nwosu received only a muffled commendation as if no one conducted the election. Surely, the election did not conduct itself. It was organised by a Commission made up of Commissioners and a Chairman. If it was an oversight that Professor Nwosu was not honoured in his lifetime, it is never late for the appropriate authority to do so posthumously.

“For us in INEC, we will continue to appreciate Professor Nwosu and the dedicated service he rendered to the nation. For the family, Professor Nwosu’s four years at the electoral commission must have been extremely challenging. With faith in God and knowing the caliber of person he was, you stood by him. We commend you and may God continue to give you the strength to bear the colossal loss. “he said.

Professor Nwosu’s family has earlier announced that his burial will take place on March 28, 2025, in his hometown of Ajalli, Anambra State.

By James Agbor

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has called on appreciate authority to confer a Posthumous National honour to the former Chairman of the commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the seventh Chairman of the national election management body in Nigeria who conducted the annulled 1993 Presidential election, he passed on five months ago in the Month of October 2024.

Professor Mahmood made the call today on the occasion of the afternoon of Tributes in honor of the former Chairman of the Commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja .

Addressing the gathering, which included Nwosu’s family members, friends, and colleagues, Professor Yakubu emphasized the significant contributions of the late professor to Nigeria’s democratic process.

He said the 1993 election was describe as the best in the history of the nation’s electoral process which declared Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe as winners of the election.

“Professor Nwosu’s four years as Chairman of NEC (1989 to 1993) now define his public service career and even persona. Like all his six predecessors and seven successors to date, he had the arduous task of managing elections in an extremely challenging context.

“He introduced many innovations in election management. In physical terms, he laid the foundation for the independence of the Commission by initiating the current three-layer structure for the commission with offices at national, state and local government levels.

“He also introduced a number of reforms to election management. His tenure is synonymous with the Open Ballot System popularly referred to as Option A4 in which voters queued up behind the symbol of the party of their choice to vote and to be physically counted. ” he sid

The recognition and honoring of Professor Nwosu’s contributions are seen by many as a crucial step in acknowledging the efforts of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of democratic excellence in Nigeria.

“Professor Nwosu did his best which was not always appreciated by many, including those who appointed him under an infinite transition from military rule to democracy which ended in the annulment of the presidential election held in 1993, resulting in the dissolution of the electoral commission and the emergence of an interim government. However, with the passage of time, the outcome of his effort is now widely appreciated. The election is now celebrated as one of the best in Nigeria. Even those who annulled it have expressed regret.

“A quarter of a century (25 years) later in June 2018, the presumed winner of the 1993 Presidential election, Chief M. K. O. Abiola, received the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), posthumously. His running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, was conferred with the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The date of the election (June 12th, 1993) has been gazetted as a national holiday and appropriately named as Democracy Day.

“Sadly, the electoral commission that conducted the election which was personified by Professor Nwosu received only a muffled commendation as if no one conducted the election. Surely, the election did not conduct itself. It was organised by a Commission made up of Commissioners and a Chairman. If it was an oversight that Professor Nwosu was not honoured in his lifetime, it is never late for the appropriate authority to do so posthumously.

“For us in INEC, we will continue to appreciate Professor Nwosu and the dedicated service he rendered to the nation. For the family, Professor Nwosu’s four years at the electoral commission must have been extremely challenging. With faith in God and knowing the caliber of person he was, you stood by him. We commend you and may God continue to give you the strength to bear the colossal loss. “he said.

Professor Nwosu’s family has earlier announced that his burial will take place on March 28, 2025, in his hometown of Ajalli, Anambra State.

By James Agbor

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has called on appreciate authority to confer a Posthumous National honour to the former Chairman of the commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the seventh Chairman of the national election management body in Nigeria who conducted the annulled 1993 Presidential election, he passed on five months ago in the Month of October 2024.

Professor Mahmood made the call today on the occasion of the afternoon of Tributes in honor of the former Chairman of the Commission, Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja .

Addressing the gathering, which included Nwosu’s family members, friends, and colleagues, Professor Yakubu emphasized the significant contributions of the late professor to Nigeria’s democratic process.

He said the 1993 election was describe as the best in the history of the nation’s electoral process which declared Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe as winners of the election.

“Professor Nwosu’s four years as Chairman of NEC (1989 to 1993) now define his public service career and even persona. Like all his six predecessors and seven successors to date, he had the arduous task of managing elections in an extremely challenging context.

“He introduced many innovations in election management. In physical terms, he laid the foundation for the independence of the Commission by initiating the current three-layer structure for the commission with offices at national, state and local government levels.

“He also introduced a number of reforms to election management. His tenure is synonymous with the Open Ballot System popularly referred to as Option A4 in which voters queued up behind the symbol of the party of their choice to vote and to be physically counted. ” he sid

The recognition and honoring of Professor Nwosu’s contributions are seen by many as a crucial step in acknowledging the efforts of individuals who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of democratic excellence in Nigeria.

“Professor Nwosu did his best which was not always appreciated by many, including those who appointed him under an infinite transition from military rule to democracy which ended in the annulment of the presidential election held in 1993, resulting in the dissolution of the electoral commission and the emergence of an interim government. However, with the passage of time, the outcome of his effort is now widely appreciated. The election is now celebrated as one of the best in Nigeria. Even those who annulled it have expressed regret.

“A quarter of a century (25 years) later in June 2018, the presumed winner of the 1993 Presidential election, Chief M. K. O. Abiola, received the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), posthumously. His running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, was conferred with the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The date of the election (June 12th, 1993) has been gazetted as a national holiday and appropriately named as Democracy Day.

“Sadly, the electoral commission that conducted the election which was personified by Professor Nwosu received only a muffled commendation as if no one conducted the election. Surely, the election did not conduct itself. It was organised by a Commission made up of Commissioners and a Chairman. If it was an oversight that Professor Nwosu was not honoured in his lifetime, it is never late for the appropriate authority to do so posthumously.

“For us in INEC, we will continue to appreciate Professor Nwosu and the dedicated service he rendered to the nation. For the family, Professor Nwosu’s four years at the electoral commission must have been extremely challenging. With faith in God and knowing the caliber of person he was, you stood by him. We commend you and may God continue to give you the strength to bear the colossal loss. “he said.

Professor Nwosu’s family has earlier announced that his burial will take place on March 28, 2025, in his hometown of Ajalli, Anambra State.