Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who served as Chairman of the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993, has passed away.
The NEC is now known as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Born on October 2, 1941, Nwosu died in a hospital in Virginia, USA.
He was appointed by the then military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, and oversaw the June 12, 1993 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest.
In that presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) triumphed over Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).
Nwosu’s commission introduced the innovative Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system.
Despite releasing many election results, Nwosu was ordered to halt further announcements of the June 12 election by the Babangida regime.
In July 2024, the House of Representatives urged President Bola Tinubu to honour Nwosu for his role in conducting what is considered the most credible election in Nigeria’s post-independence history.
