Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in 2023 election and former Governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi has mourned the passing of Humphrey Nwosu, a former chairman of National Electoral Commission (NEC).
Gatekeepers News reports that Nwosu died at the age of 83 in a hospital in Virginia, United States on Thursday.
The deceased who was born on October 2, 1941, hailed from Ajali community, Orumba North Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra state.
Nwosu headed the electoral commission, National Electoral Commission (NEC) now known as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 1989 to 1993.
The former election official oversaw June 12, 1993 presidential election which was won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and annulled by former military head, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
According to Obi; Nwosu stood for the truth in defence of democracy and his country even when it was delicate and dangerous to do so.
The politician prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and asked God to grant the family left behind and all those who mourn, the fortitude to bear the loss.
He said, “ I have just received the sad news of the death of the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, NEC, Prof Humphrey Nwosu.”
“Prof Nwosu was a true Democrat, an outstanding academician whose love for democracy and its values was copiously demonstrated in the way and manner he carried out his responsibilities as an electoral umpire between 1989 to 1993.”
“His courageous defense of democratic principles, even under a non-democratic government, put him out as a man who was ready even to sacrifice his life for the sake of democracy and good governance.”
“For his pivotal role in holding and upholding the 1993 presidential elections, Prof Nwosu’s name will remain indelible in the history of Nigerian democracy. He stood for the truth In Nigeria for standing for the truth and the best tenets of democracy when it was delicate and even dangerous to do so.”
“It’s, however, disheartening to note that what Prof Nwosu did when the nation’s electoral commission was not even legally independent and when billions of taxpayers’ money were not deployed as it is today with an accompanying updated technology could not be repeated in contemporary times in a supposed full democratic system.”
“As an academic, Prof Nwosu brought to bear all the principles he taught in the classroom as an erudite professor of Political Science, unlike these days when professors are procured to aid electoral malpractices, including announcing results of elections they did not verify.”
“For the new Nigeria we desire, the country needs more of Professor Nwosu, who will risk their lives for democracy.”
“I pray God to forgive his shortcomings while on earth, grant his soul eternal repose, and his family and all lovers of democracy who mourn him the gratitude to bear the huge loss.”
“May God Almighty grant Nigeria the likes of Professor Humphrey Nwosu in her future elections.”
House of Representatives had in July 2024 called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immortalise Nwosu for conducting the most credible election in the country since its independence.
