Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who served as Chairman of the former National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993, has died.
The NEC is currently referred to as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Born on October 2, 1941, Nwosu passed away in a hospital in Virginia, USA.
Appointed by the then military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida, he oversaw the June 12, 1993 election, which is widely seen as Nigeria’s most free and fair.
During that presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola of the now-defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) won against Bashir Tofa of the now-defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).
Nwosu’s commission introduced the groundbreaking Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system.
Although he announced numerous election results, Nwosu was instructed to stop further announcements of the June 12 election by the Babangida administration.
In July 2024, the House of Representatives called on President Bola Tinubu to honor Nwosu for his role in conducting what is deemed the most credible election in Nigeria’s history since independence.
