The Senate has thrown out prayers contained in a motion seeking to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the late Prof Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) who oversaw the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

The motion was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after lawmakers threw it on Wednesday.

Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Prof. Nwosu’s legacy.

Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results. He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero”.

Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.

On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.

Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, only results. “As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.

Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election. “Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.

"President Obasanjo was there as president for 8 years; he didn’t name anything after Nwosu. Even Yar’Adua was there, Jonathan was there, Buhari was there. Now that Nwosu is gone, you want President Tinubu to name structures after Nwosu. It will not happen.”

^{Sunday Karimi (Kogi West Senator)}

"Prof. Nwosu and IBB fooled 18 million Nigerians that voted. I would have expected Nwosu to be able to say: 'I couldn’t display these numbers now in my record; Abiola won this election, but I’m not able to announce it.' He died without confessing, and he cannot be rewarded."

^{Adam Oshiomhole (Edo North Senator)}

After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote. They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.

Pigstormentor:
Senators that actually spoke against it are all Yoruba. If Humphrey Nwosu didn't announce the result, how did they know MKO ABIOLA won? See the way they reason against IGBOs and you tell me NIGERIA is not wired for destruction?

Pigstormentor:
Senators that actually spoke against it are all Yoruba. If Humphrey Nwosu didn't announce the result, how did they know MKO ABIOLA won?

See the way they reason against IGBOs and you tell me NIGERIA is not wired for destruction?

Anyway, MKO ABIOLA, a known coup plotter is a DEMOCRACT but Humphrey Nwosu the INEC chairman that kept announcing results even under duress is irrelevant abi?

In an Election adjudged to be the freest and fairest?

1 NIGERIA IGBOs ..I hail una

Please Immortalize Yakubu..

ZOO Politicians

Chuba okadigbo is a better and refined version of a worthless Soyinka. The Noble FRAUD

Counterigbolies:
who is chuba okadigbo?

Pigstormentor:

Chuba okadigbo is a better and refined version of a worthless Soyinka. The Noble FRAUD

Racoon:
The sacrifice this man made to ensure the emergence of the late MKO Abiola as president-elect should have been the fulcrum of the June-12 1993 presidential election and the attendant crisis the annoying annulment triggered.

However, he is not regarded or recognised. All is simply because the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu doesnt belong to the caste system within their warped prismatic worldview. Let see them honour Mahmud Yakubu then.

fmlala:
He deserves the recognition