South-east senators walk out of plenary as senate rejects motion to honour Humphrey Nwosu

Senators under the aegis of south-east caucus walked out of the chamber on Thursday following the senate’s second rejection of a motion to immortalise the late Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The lawmakers asked President Bola Tinubu to honour Nwosu’s legacy.

Enyinnaya Abaribe, chairman of the caucus and senator representing Abia south, reintroduced the motion to immortalise the late Nwosu, like he did during the plenary on Wednesday.

Abaribe proposed naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after Nwosu “in recognition of his role in laying the foundation for the commission in 1993 and overseeing what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest presidential election”.

Abaribe, in the motion co-sponsored by 15 other senators, argued that Nwosu deserved to be immortalised alongside other heroes of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

He also urged the federal government to confer a posthumous national honour on the late NEC chairman.

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

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

In a spontaneous display of anger, members of the south-east caucus in led by Abaribe, walked out of the chamber to address the press.

Abaribe told journalists that the south-east caucus was displeased with the senate’s rejection of the move to honour the late Nwosu.

“We came here just to make a brief statement after the vote that was taken on the floor with regard to our motion to immortalize Professor Humphrey Nwosu,” he said.

“We had three prayers. The first prayer, which was for them, was for the senate to recommend to the executive that given the fact that Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the person who actually laid the foundation of the present INEC headquarters and commenced the building before that particular NEC was dissolved by the military in 1993, we felt that we should recommend that the executive name that INEC building after him.

“This is also in consonance with what Professor Jega, a former INEC chairman, said on Tuesday at the colloquium for Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

“He was surprised that up to this moment, Humphrey Nwosu has not been recognised or honoured by the government of Nigeria, who today are benefiting from his plans and the legacy of conducting the freest and fairest election in the country.

“We also had another prayer that even if they don’t do that, that they should also honour Professor Nwosu by giving him a national honour which was also rejected .

“But we are not deterred. The reason is simple. It may be delayed, but it will not be denied.

“We seize this opportunity to specifically appeal to President Bola Tinubu to immortalise the NEC chairman.”

In addition to the entire south-east senators present at the emergency press briefing, Nwoko also attended.