By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gathered on Monday, March 24, 2024, at its headquarters in Abuja to pay tribute to the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the seventh Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC). The emotional ceremony, attended by family, friends, and colleagues, commemorated the life and legacy of the distinguished scholar and public servant who passed away in October 2024.
In a heartfelt address, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who presided over the ceremony, welcomed Lady Stella Humphrey Nwosu and other members of the Nwosu family, as well as dignitaries from various sectors, including the National Human Rights Commission, former INEC staff, security agency heads, and the Commission’s officials.
Professor Yakubu acknowledged the significant contributions of Professor Nwosu to Nigeria’s electoral history. He reflected on Nwosu’s tenure as the Chairman of NEC from 1989 to 1993, a period that became synonymous with the introduction of major innovations in the electoral process. Notably, Nwosu pioneered the Open Ballot System, popularly known as Option A4, which required voters to physically queue behind party symbols to cast their votes, ensuring transparency and accuracy in the process.
Yakubu emphasized that while Nwosu’s leadership during a tumultuous period of Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democracy was not always appreciated at the time, his efforts have since been widely acknowledged. The annulled 1993 presidential election, under Nwosu’s leadership, is now celebrated as one of the best elections in Nigeria’s history. The eventual recognition of the presumed winner, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, through the conferral of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) award in 2018, further underscored the importance of that election.
Despite this posthumous recognition for Abiola, Professor Nwosu’s role in overseeing the election went largely unacknowledged. Yakubu remarked that while the electoral commission that conducted the election received only a “muffled commendation,” it was important to correct this oversight, especially considering the tireless work that Nwosu and his team had put in. He called for the posthumous recognition of Nwosu’s vital contribution to Nigeria’s democracy.
Professor Yakubu also expressed deep gratitude to the Nwosu family for their unwavering support during the challenging years of his service at the helm of the electoral commission. “Your strength and faith in God have been evident through it all, and we commend you for standing by him,” Yakubu said, offering prayers for continued strength for the family.
The ceremony concluded with well-wishes and prayers for the Nwosu family as they continue to finalize arrangements for a fitting farewell to the late Professor Nwosu. The tribute was a moment not just of sorrow but of celebration for a man whose dedication to Nigeria’s electoral processes has left a lasting legacy on the nation’s democracy.
As the event drew to a close, Yakubu expressed his hopes for Professor Nwosu’s eternal rest, stating, “May his soul be with the Lord.”
The ceremony marked a solemn yet proud acknowledgment of Professor Nwosu’s enduring influence on Nigeria’s electoral system, a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.