AS IF NOBODY CONDUCTED THAT ELECTION: IMMORTALIZING PROFESSOR HUMPHREY NWOSU WITH A NATIONAL INSTITUTION, THE BEST JUNE 12 HONOUR FOR DEMOCRACY
BY
UCHENWOKE-EKPERECHI, JOHN MBONU
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
Hegel, the celebrated 19th-century German Professor of History and Philosophy, opined that, "Humanity makes progress through the conflict of opposites." To put it differently, Nigeria has remained doggedly deviant in advancing its affairs despite the current and volatile nature of its conflicting opposites. Would the political leaders want to learn their history? No way!
Except you are living away from Nigeria, especially where you do not have access to the internet or cannot lay your hands on any tabloids, then I will forgive you. If not, nobody should talk you into accepting the hysterical and stale situation of the Nigerian merit system of reward and recognition. It bears tribal badges and sectarian tongues. From the leaders to the led, everyone appears sick. What are the sicknesses? Too many evil orchestrations by the political leaders and too many compromises from the citizens—injustices.
Nigeria is a country of myriad social maladies, injustices, insecurity, and corruption. It is a country of too many injustices with few strong-willed men of integrity and towering character. The country is laden with too many injuries and too few humanists, kindhearted, and service-driven individuals who can look up to posterity. Nigeria has so many gory wounds that need stitching.
What happened on the 26th and 27th of March 2025 on the floor of the Senate reminds me why I am an Igbo man in Nigeria. When a motion was moved by the Senator representing Aba North to immortalise Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who was buried on Friday, the 28th of March, 2025, in his hometown, Aja, Anambra State, it was rejected. Humphrey Nwosu, a Professor of Political Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, deserves his exalted place in history.
How can we continue talking about the June 12, 1993, election in Nigeria as the freest and most credible election without Prof. Humphrey Nwosu? We behave as if nobody conducted the election. Prof. Nwosu devised the political and electoral ingenuity known as "Option A4," an open ballot system that brought an unprecedented level of integrity into Nigerian election management and delivered seamless results. Sadly, the credibility associated with that era has, in the opinion of many Nigerians, been undermined under the APC government, where deceitful and fraudulent numerical counting is alleged to prevail across party lines.
Nwosu is not only overdue for a more appropriate national honour beyond the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), posthumously awarded to him on June 12, 2025, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), but should also be immortalised with a national institution such as the INEC Conference Hall. Humphrey Nwosu reportedly returned over 500 million unspent money voted for the conduct of the 1993 elections.
Do you know how much that would be in today's value? With the global and domestic acceptance of the June 12 election, it is fitting to say that Prof. Nwosu remains the darling of Nigeria and the world for his prudent and flawless management of elections under a highly tense military dictatorship. Nwosu's human virtue is unparalleled and unrivalled in the history of election management and umpiring. By his honesty, nationalism, and bravery, Prof. Nwosu left a huge vacuum that is yet to be filled. Yet, the operators of the country, rather than Nigerians themselves, continue to diminish his unmatched contribution to democracy and nation-building.
The Nigerian government should come out boldly and positively to give Nwosu his flowers. Nigeria has the luxury of appreciation. It should do just that.
For a proper background to the annulled June 12, 1993, election, it is important to present the historical context, the political causative motif, and the militarised geopolitics of the era.
Before a series of military coups by disgruntled elements, Nigeria had become a pariah in the eyes of the international community. Major General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and his men staged another coup, which ousted the military government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari on 27 August, 1985.
MKO was later given a posthumous GCFR award, signifying official recognition that he won the election. On the ballot, Nigerians had the biggest African philanthropist of many colours—a man of stoic character, a man of stardom, a benevolence maestro, and a business conglomerate. Abiola was right for Nigeria, and Nigerians, from Maiduguri to Imo State, demonstrated that belief.
If Nigeria has unanimously upheld that the June 12, 1993, presidential election, in which Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola emerged as the widely acknowledged winner, was annulled by the then military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, before the final results were officially stopped to be announced by the NEC Chairman, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, then the subsequent decision by late President Muhammadu Buhari to award Abiola the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), the highest civilian honour meant for a President, change the nation's Democracy Day from 29 May to 12 June, and rename the Abuja National Stadium after Moshood Abiola, popularly called MKO, deserves commendation.
But what happened to the man who conducted the freest, most credible, and fairest election in the history of Nigeria?
What is to be done for a man who invested all that he had in wit, diplomacy, and intellectual brilliance to ensure that the election became what it is remembered for today? What happened to the man who faced and withstood intimidation and life-threatening pressure from the witty and wily politicians of the 1980s and 1990s in their bullying style of politics?
Again, what happened to the man who refused to compromise his integrity and the name of the country on the crass altar of materialism, self-glorification, personal enrichment, and sectarianism, as many would have done today?
For a man who said to himself, "As long as I'm concerned in these elections, and irrespective of the moneybag politicians making advances to me, these elections must reflect the will of the electorate," I believe he deserves to be decorated and given his flowers for the sake of posterity.
Since the late President Buhari announced this historic development in 2018, no significant encomium has been given to Professor Humphrey Nwosu for his role in the electoral process, nor have his critics based their points on empirical norms as a bad umpire. Yet MKO and his Muslim running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, have been duly honoured by the Government of Nigeria.
I would not want to believe that because Professor Humphrey Nwosu came from the South-East extraction of the country, that is the reason for the injuries and injustices meted out against him and the selfless service he rendered in preserving our democracy and governance.
For sure, Nwosu brought novelty into the system by introducing Option A4 and the Open Ballot System, whose principles continue to influence electoral processes today. Yet many human rights activists, political analysts, journalists, and even the Presidency have remained silent on this glaring injustice against Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
I want to say vehemently and unapologetically that Professors Maurice Iwu, Atahiru Jega, and Yakubu Mahmood have all done their best for Nigeria as INEC Chairmen. However, if Nigerians affirm that the June 12, 1993, election remains the freest, fairest, and most credible election held in the country since 1960, then denying Professor Humphrey Nwosu such honour could rightly be described as "K-leg justice," a situation where the other leg must be strengthened for the country to walk and run well.
Furthermore, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, having conducted the June 12, 1993, election that has been adjudged in Nigeria and across the world as the freest, fairest, and most credible election ever conducted in the country, deserves to have his spirit and legacy honoured.
To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who risked his political future on the highway of democratic activism during military rule and today sits in the ivory tower of power, Aso Rock, history beckons on you to celebrate a man of collective posterity. A man who was never intimidated by the horrors and roars of military rule. A man who insisted that the election must continue. A man who, despite the threats, challenged the military government in court over why the results of the election won by MKO Abiola were not announced and should not be declared.
In the spirit of One Nigeria, national diversity, and for a man who safeguarded our democracy in the face of military intimidation and moneybag politicians determined not to compromise the integrity of the much-talked-about June 12, 1993, presidential election won by His Excellency, Moshood Abiola, GCFR, immortalising Professor Humphrey Nwosu would not only be the finest national gift of June 12 to Nigeria and Nigerians but also to all democratic nations that understand the importance of electoral integrity, professionalism, and transparency, values for which late Professor Humphrey Nwosu stood in 1993.
May Nigeria prevail in peace and unity.
Happy Democracy Day, Nigerians!
John Mbonu Uchenwoke-Ekperechi is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Inside Agwa News (IAN), Columnist of "Shadow of the Flag," and Public Affairs Analyst. He writes from Owerri, Imo State.
Website: www.insideagwa.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +234 902 884 7070
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