Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) who oversaw Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993 election, has passed away at the age of 83.
Nwosu died in a hospital in Virginia, USA, after a life marked by his crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s democratic history.
Appointed by then-military dictator Ibrahim Babangida, Nwosu led the commission—now known as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—from 1989 to 1993.
He conducted the June 12 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest to date.
The election saw Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) defeat Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
Nwosu’s tenure introduced the groundbreaking Option A4 and Open Ballot voting systems, both of which enhanced electoral transparency.
However, midway through releasing the results, the Babangida regime ordered Nwosu to stop the announcement, ultimately leading to the election’s annulment.
In July 2024, Nigeria’s House of Representatives urged President Bola Tinubu to immortalize Nwosu for his role in conducting the landmark election, hailed as the most credible in the country’s post-independence history.
