Nigeria Loses Prof Humphrey Nwosu, Electoral Umpire Who Conducted Nigeria’s Freest and Fairest Election

Professor Humphrey Nwosu, Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993, has joined his ancestors.

NEC is now known as the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Nwosu, who was born on October 2, 1941, died in a hospital in Virginia, United States of America.

Following his appointment by then dictator Ibrahim Babangida, Nwosu conducted the June 12, 1993 election, which was seen as the freest and fairest election till date in Nigeria.

The presidential election was won by Chief Moshood Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, defeating Bashir Tofa, the candidate of the National Republican Convention.

Nwosu’s commission introduced the novel Option A4 voting system and the Open ballot system.

Nwosu had released many of the election results when he was ordered by the Babangida military regime to stop further announcement.

In July 2024, the House of Representatives called on President Bola Tinubu to immortalise Nwosu.

The lawmakers wanted him immortalised for conducting the election adjudged as the freest and most credible in post-independence Nigeria.