JUST-IN: Senate Rejects Move To Name INEC Headquarters After Nwosu

The Nigerian Senate has rejected a motion seeking to rename the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC).

Nwosu, who was in charge of the NEC during the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, had been nominated for posthumous recognition for his role in Nigeria’s democratic development. The motion, which was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday, was initially rejected by lawmakers on Wednesday.

The proposal stirred heated debates among senators, with differing opinions about Nwosu’s legacy. Some senators, like Osita Ngwu and Austin Akobundu, defended Nwosu, citing the constraints he faced under the military regime, which prevented him from announcing the results of the annulled election. They argued that he should be recognized as a hero for his efforts in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

However, other senators, including Jimoh Ibrahim and Cyril Fasuyi, dismissed the idea, questioning the rationale for honoring someone who did not announce the results of the election. They emphasized that history rewards results, not efforts, and felt that honoring Nwosu would diminish the memory of the late MKO Abiola, the widely recognized winner of the annulled election.

After intense discussions, most senators voted against the motion through a voice vote. Instead, they agreed to honor Nwosu with a one-minute silence and to extend condolences to his family, effectively rejecting the proposal to immortalize him further.