The June 12, 1993, presidential election remains one of the most defining moments in Nigeria’s democratic journey. While late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and his running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, have received posthumous national honors, one key figure in that historic election—Professor Humphrey Nwosu—has remained largely unrecognized.
Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie, founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has called on the Federal Government to correct this oversight by immortalizing Nwosu’s legacy. In a statement, Okorie emphasized Nwosu’s crucial role as the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman, who conducted what remains Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.
Despite pressure from the military and threats to his life, Nwosu stood firm, ensuring that the true results were recorded. However, his efforts were ultimately undermined when General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election, throwing the country into political uncertainty.
Even Babangida himself, in his recently released memoir, acknowledged that the 1993 election was Nigeria’s most credible—an indirect recognition of Nwosu’s integrity. Yet, despite this validation, Nwosu never received the honor he deserved.
While former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as Democracy Day and posthumously honored Abiola, Nwosu was overlooked. With his recent passing, the call for his recognition has gained new urgency.
Okorie has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by not only granting Nwosu a posthumous national honor but also ensuring a state burial. Most importantly, he called for the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be named after him.
Such a move would serve as a lasting tribute to the man who set the foundation for credible elections in Nigeria. It would also reaffirm the country’s commitment to democracy and electoral transparency—values that Nwosu dedicated his life to upholding.
President Tinubu has a historic opportunity to correct this oversight and ensure that Professor Humphrey Nwosu’s name is permanently etched in Nigeria’s democratic legacy.
