- S/East Senators kick
*Vow to meet Tinubu
By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
Few days after adopting controversial voice vote to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State, the Senate on Thursday rejected a move to immortalize late Prof Humphrey Nwosu who conducted the 1993 Presidential election which Chief Moshood Abiola won but was annulled by the then Federal Military Government.
The annulled election has been adjudged as the freest and fairest election in Nigerian history.
While the Federal Government has accepted and legalised the results of that election and directly or in directed compensated victims of that election, the Senate went ahead to reject honouring the Chairman of the then National Electoral Commission.
As a result of the rejection, the South East Senate Caucus (SESC) on Thursday protest bitterly against what it saw as unfair treatment and has vowed to seek presidential intervention.
The motion, sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, sought to immortalize Nwosu’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic evolution, particularly his role in the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Despite support from senators from the South-east, the Senate Minority Leader, and several other lawmakers, the motion sparked intense debate and was ultimately rejected. Some senators argued that Nwosu’s failure to announce the results of the 1993 election, despite the military regime’s pressure, disqualified him from such recognition. Others, including Senators Jimoh Ibrahim, Cyril Fasayo, and Afolabi Salisu, opposed the motion, arguing that honoring Nwosu would undermine the legacy of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, election.
The Senate instead agreed to honor Nwosu with a one-minute silence and extended condolences to his family. This decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some arguing that it is a fitting tribute to Nwosu’s contributions, while others believe it falls short of adequately recognizing his role in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Meanwhile, the SESC has appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immortalize Nwosu by naming the INEC headquarters after him. The caucus, speaking through Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, described Nwosu as a hero who conducted the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. They emphasized the need to posthumously honor Nwosu for his significant contributions to Nigeria’s democratic dispensation.
Nwosu’s legacy as the architect of Nigeria’s freest election has been widely acknowledged, with the House of Representatives previously urging President Tinubu to immortalize him ². The South-East Senate caucus’s appeal is a testament to Nwosu’s enduring impact on Nigeria’s democratic journey. By honoring his memory, the government can demonstrate its commitment to upholding the principles of free and fair elections.
