The Senate has dismissed a motion seeking to rename the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in honour of the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu was the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) who oversaw the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The motion, reintroduced on Thursday by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe after being previously rejected, also called for a posthumous national honour for Nwosu in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development.
However, the proposal reignited sharp disagreements among lawmakers, with opinions divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
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Senator Osita Ngwu defended Nwosu, emphasising that he operated under military rule and was unable to announce the election results due to threats to his life.
“There was no way he could have declared the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t erase his contributions,” he argued.
In contrast, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and others strongly opposed the idea, insisting that Nwosu should not be honoured since he failed to announce the election outcome.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi reinforced this stance, stating, “History rewards results, not attempts. If he didn’t announce the results, he doesn’t deserve this honour.”
Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for his silence over the years, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that naming INEC’s headquarters after him would diminish the legacy of MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the election.
“Beyond a one-minute silence, anything else would undermine Abiola’s memory,” he said.
Following intense debate, the Senate overwhelmingly voted against the motion.
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While lawmakers agreed to observe a one-minute silence and extend condolences to Nwosu’s family, they rejected all other proposals to immortalize him.
