Senate rejects motion to immortalise former NEC chair Humphrey Nwosu

The senate has rejected a motion to immortalise the late Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), by naming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja after him.

The motion, sponsored by Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, was stalled at the senate on Wednesday.

The proposal was debated extensively on Thursday but failed to secure enough support.

Abaribe argued that Nwosu, who oversaw the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, deserved recognition for his role in Nigeria’s democratic history.

However, Cyril Fasuyi, senator representing Ekiti north, dismissed the motion, saying, “Nobody rewards efforts, what we reward is results. Humphrey Nwosu only made efforts”.

Fasuyi insisted that the late electoral chief had not done enough to merit such recognition.

“I want to say, vehemently, I Senator Cyril Fasuyi representing the good and decent people of Ekiti north, having searched my conscience, I am against this prayer to immortalised him by naming INEC headquarters after him,” he added.

Tony Nwoye, senator for Anambra north, questioned whether opposition to the motion was linked to Nwosu’s ethnicity.

“We should not allow our personal biases to affect our decisions. June 12 was the freest and fairest election in Nigeria,” he said.

“Professor Humprey Nwosu did his best despite all the threats from the military. It is unfair, is it because he is an Igbo man?”

Titus Zam, senator representing Benue north west, said Nwosu does not deserve any honour.

“Nwosu was a political scientist. Someone who by training was supposed to deliver a credible election. A professor of political science heading INEC, could not deliver results,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned, this gentleman (Nwosu) does not deserve this honour.”

Abaribe had earlier announced that the motion had the backing of all senators from the southeast, as well as senate minority leader Abba Moro, Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta north, and Kebbi senators Adamu Aliero and Yahaya Abdullahi.

The motion also asked the federal government to posthumously honour Nwosu with a national honour.

But lawmakers rejected the resolutions when it was put to a voice vote by Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president.

Instead, the senate observed a one-minute silence in Nwosu’s honour and resolved to send condolences to his family, acknowledging their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.