The Senate on Wednesday sparked controversy after rejecting a motion seeking to immortalise the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), who oversaw the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election. The motion, raised by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and co-sponsored by South-East lawmakers, was dismissed following a heated debate and procedural disputes.
Contentious Debate and Procedural Clash
Senator Abaribe introduced the motion under "matters of urgent public importance," urging the Senate to recognise Nwosu’s role in conducting Nigeria’s freest election, which produced late MKO Abiola as the presumed winner. However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele interrupted, claiming lawmakers had not received copies of the motion, a procedural breach. Abaribe countered that the documents were available, escalating tensions in the chamber.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, presiding over the session, acknowledged the motion’s divisiveness, citing conflicting public opinions on Nwosu’s legacy. While some view him as a democracy hero for conducting a credible election, others blame him for not resisting its annulment by the military regime.
Voice Vote and Outcry
When put to a voice vote, the "nays" prevailed, rejecting the motion. Abaribe attempted to reintroduce it under different procedural orders but was blocked by Bamidele, who argued the time for debate had passed. A visibly frustrated Abaribe protested, asking, *“What is wrong with immortalising Prof. Nwosu?”* Senator Yahaya Abdullahi warned that suppressing such discussions set a "dangerous precedent".
South-East senators, including Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), expressed outrage. Umeh slammed the decision as *“very undemocratic”* in a Channels Television interview, stressing that Nwosu deserved recognition before his burial on Friday. *“Shutting down the motion without debate is unfair to a man who gave his all for Nigeria,”* he said.
Legacy of June 12
Nwosu’s NEC conducted the 1993 election, widely hailed as Nigeria’s most transparent poll. Despite its annulment, June 12 is now marked as Democracy Day. Umeh and allies argued that Nwosu’s contributions outweighed the controversies, lamenting the Senate’s refusal to honour him.
The rejection has intensified debates over historical accountability and political tribalism, with critics accusing the Senate of sidelining South-East interests. The motion may be reintroduced later, but its fate remains uncertain.
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