Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993, has reportedly passed on.
He was 83 years old and passed away in a hospital in Virginia, United States of America, according to agency reports.
Prof. Nwosu was from Ajali community in Orumba North LGA of Anambra State. He was a professor of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, when he was appointed.
Nwosu, prominently remembered for introducing Option A-4 electoral process which he used in organizing Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993 election, widely considered the freest and fairest in the country’s history, was notable for his gesticulations while explaining an issue.
He was appointed to head the electoral body by General Ibrahim Babangida, the military ruler at the time.
During the 1993 election, Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
Nwosu introduced key reforms in the electoral process, such as the Option A4 and Open Ballot voting systems, to make elections more transparent and fair.
Despite these efforts, Nwosu was ordered by the Babangida regime to stop the release of the election results before they were fully announced. Later, the military annulled the election, leading to widespread protests and political instability.
Refusing bluntly, Prof. Nwosu mounted a large billboard at the front of the NEC building in Area 10, Garki, Abuja, where he did the collation of the presidential election results to the public glare until Babangida announced the annulment of the election.
Since he left NEC, Nwosu had lived a quiet and private life until his death.
In July 2024, the House of Representatives urged then President Bola Tinubu to honor Prof. Nwosu for his role in conducting what is still viewed as the most credible election in Nigeria’s history.
