…says it’s a victory for robust legislative engagement
Senator Austin Akobundu has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for posthumously conferring the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC).
Prof. Nwosu’s NEC conducted the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history. That election, won by Chief MKO Abiola, was abruptly annulled by the military regime led by General Ibrahim Babangida. In recognition of its significance, Nigeria later adopted June 12 as Democracy Day.
In light of the need to formally recognize Prof. Nwosu’s contribution, the Nigerian Senate debated a motion on March 27, 2025, calling for his national honour. Despite strong opposition from some senators, Senator Akobundu stood firm, passionately advocating for the late electoral chief to be duly acknowledged for his bravery and integrity.
While contributing to the debate, Senator Akobundu criticized attempts to downplay Nwosu’s role in defending democracy during a dangerous military era. “Recently, the former president, Ibrahim Babangida, owned up to his mistakes. If Humphrey Nwosu did not conduct a credible election, how would Abiola’s election be validated? So, it was a validation (of the election),” he declared.
He added: “I was in service (during the June 12 saga) and I know a whole lot about the doggedness, the courage that Humphrey Nwosu demonstrated up to the point he was stopped from continuing with the results. To stay here and not acknowledge that Humphrey was a fighter who stood his ground against the military leadership to ensure that democracy was enthroned, is most uncharitable.”
“It is very uncharitable to say that when he (Nwosu) was alive, he didn’t do anything. Let me bring it out that Humphrey Nwosu published a book where he detailed all that happened including the results that validated Abiola’s election,” he further said.
“Humphrey Nwosu remains a great man in our hearts and should be given his rightful place in the hall of honour in this country,” Akobundu concluded.
The Senate debate grew so contentious that Senator Akobundu and a group of his colleagues staged a walkout over the refusal of some lawmakers to support the call for national recognition.
However, in what Senator Akobundu has now described as a vindication of their stance, President Tinubu conferred the CON honour on Prof. Nwosu during his Democracy Day address to a joint session of the National Assembly.
Akobundu lauded the decision, calling it a “victory for robust legislative engagements by those who aligned themselves with the right side of history.”
With this long-awaited national recognition finally accorded, Senator Akobundu and his allies have been vindicated in their persistent advocacy for honouring the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.
Congratulations to the late erudite Professor!
