Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Electoral Commission (NEC), passed away at the age of 82 in a Virginia hospital in the United States. Nwosu was well known for overseeing Nigeria’s pivotal June 12, 1993, presidential election, which is widely regarded as the country’s freest and fairest.
This election saw Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) leading against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Despite its integrity, Nwosu was ordered by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida to halt further announcements of the election results.
Under his leadership, Nwosu introduced the innovative Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system, which played a significant role in the election process. His contributions to Nigeria’s electoral history remain impactful, and he was recently recognized for his role in the country’s democratic development. Nwosu’s passing marks the loss of a major figure in Nigeria’s journey to democracy.
