June 12: Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, 83
Former NEC Chairman Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who oversaw Nigeria’s annulled June 12, 1993 election, has passed away at the age of 83 in Virginia, USA. Nwosu’s NEC was pivotal in conducting what is regarded as Nigeria’s fairest election.
Former National Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, NEC, Prof Humphrey Nwosu, has died at 83.
Nwosu's NEC conducted the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, believed to have been won by late business mogul, MKO Abiola. The NEC now is known and called the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Born on October 2, 1941, Nwosu died in a hospital in Virginia, USA.
Nwosu was appointed NEC Chairman by the then-military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, and he oversaw the June 12, election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s fairest and freiest.
Nwosu's NEC had released the results of the presidential election up to the level where it was clear that Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, was winning the poll, landslide, against Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, when General Babangida's regime stopped further announcement of the results and eventually annulled it, causing serious crises across the country.
Nwosu’s NEC introduced the innovative Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system for the election.
In July 2024, the House of Representatives urged President Bola Tinubu to honour Professor Nwosu for his role in conducting what is still considered the most credible election in Nigeria’s post-independence history.
Prof Nwosu an Aro from Ajalli, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State was a Professor of Political Science.
A consummate public administrator, academic, technocrat, and political scientist. Nwosu studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley where he earned Master’s and doctoral degrees in political science ((Magna Cum Laude) in 1973 and 1976 respectively. He subsequently returned to Nigeria, to teach at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he rose to become a full-time professor.
He served as commissioner in the cabinet of Samson Emeka Omeruah, military governor of old Anambra State, where he helped traditional rulers to gain staffs of office and receive salaries, and settled intra and inter community land disputes. He also served as chairman of a Federal Technical Committee on the application of Civil Service Reforms in the local government service.
He was appointed NEC chairman in 1989 after his predecessor (and former mentor) Eme Awa resigned due to a disagreement with Ibrahim Babangida. After the resignation of Prof. Eme Awa, Prof Nwosu was appointed chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria. He was succeeded in office by Prof Okon Uya in 1993.
Prior to the June 12 1993 Presidential election, the only one supervised by Prof. Nwosu, the commission introduced the much celebrated option A4 and the open ballot voting system. The system was said to have greatly influenced the transparency and credibility of that election, even as many argue that the annulled 1993 election conducted by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu still stand out as the most transparent election in Nigeria’s electoral history despite the fact that the two presidential candidates were Moslems and the perceived winner, late Chief Abiola, had another Moslem, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, as running mate.
Born on October 2, 1941, Nwosu died in a hospital in Virginia, USA.
Nwosu was appointed NEC Chairman by the then-military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, and he oversaw the June 12, election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s fairest and freiest.
Nwosu's NEC had released the results of the presidential election up to the level where it was clear that Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, was winning the poll, landslide, against Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, when General Babangida's regime stopped further announcement of the results and eventually annulled it, causing serious crises across the country.
Nwosu’s NEC introduced the innovative Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system for the election.
In July 2024, the House of Representatives urged President Bola Tinubu to honour Professor Nwosu for his role in conducting what is still considered the most credible election in Nigeria’s post-independence history.
Prof Nwosu an Aro from Ajalli, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State was a Professor of Political Science.
A consummate public administrator, academic, technocrat, and political scientist. Nwosu studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley where he earned Master’s and doctoral degrees in political science ((Magna Cum Laude) in 1973 and 1976 respectively. He subsequently returned to Nigeria, to teach at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he rose to become a full-time professor.
He served as commissioner in the cabinet of Samson Emeka Omeruah, military governor of old Anambra State, where he helped traditional rulers to gain staffs of office and receive salaries, and settled intra and inter community land disputes. He also served as chairman of a Federal Technical Committee on the application of Civil Service Reforms in the local government service.
He was appointed NEC chairman in 1989 after his predecessor (and former mentor) Eme Awa resigned due to a disagreement with Ibrahim Babangida. After the resignation of Prof. Eme Awa, Prof Nwosu was appointed chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria. He was succeeded in office by Prof Okon Uya in 1993.
Prior to the June 12 1993 Presidential election, the only one supervised by Prof. Nwosu, the commission introduced the much celebrated option A4 and the open ballot voting system. The system was said to have greatly influenced the transparency and credibility of that election, even as many argue that the annulled 1993 election conducted by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu still stand out as the most transparent election in Nigeria’s electoral history despite the fact that the two presidential candidates were Moslems and the perceived winner, late Chief Abiola, had another Moslem, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, as running mate.
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