Senate rejects motion to rename INEC headquarters after former NEC chairman, Nwosu
NASS
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Senate has rejected a motion seeking to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in honour of the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu oversaw the controversial June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Reintroduced by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after the motion was previously dismissed the day before, the proposal called for posthumous national honours to be awarded to Nwosu for his role in Nigeria’s democratic progress.
However, the motion sparked a vigorous and divided debate among lawmakers.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu had operated under a military regime, which limited his ability to announce the election results, suggesting that Nwosu could not be blamed for failing to announce the results under duress.
He expressed that many still considered Nwosu a hero despite the circumstances.
In contrast, Senator Austin Akobundu argued that it was unjust for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, stressing that he deserved recognition in Nigeria’s hall of honour for his role in the democratic process.
Meanwhile, other senators, including Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, firmly rejected the idea, questioning why the Senate would honour someone who did not announce the election results.
Ibrahim insisted that nothing should be named after Nwosu.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi emphasised that history rewards results, not intentions, and that Nwosu’s failure to announce the results, regardless of the circumstances, disqualified him from such an honour.
Senator Sunday Karimi also criticised Nwosu for not speaking out while Senator Afolabi Salisu cautioned that immortalising him would overshadow the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely recognised winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
Salisu argued that any action beyond a one-minute silence would tarnish Abiola’s legacy.
Following the heated deliberations, the majority of senators voted to reject the motion through a voice vote.
Nevertheless, they agreed to hold a one-minute silence in Nwosu’s honour and extended condolences to his family, effectively putting an end to any further efforts to immortalize him through the renaming of the INEC headquarters.
