Senate rejects motion to immortalize ex -NEC Chairman, Prof Nwosu

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday rejected a motion to honour the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, who supervised the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

This occured after the lawmaker representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and several co-sponsors from the minority caucus, largely representing the South-East geopolitical zone, brought a motion under matters of urgent public importance, seeking to immortalise the late academic for his role in the country’s democratic evolution.

“Prof. Nwosu’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain undeniable. Despite the challenges he faced, he conducted an election that remains a reference point in our electoral history. It is only right that this Senate recognizes his role and honours his memory,” Abaribe argued.

However, as he proceeded with the motion, having been granted leave by the presiding Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, Abaribe was interrupted by a point of order raised by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

Bamidele argued that senators did not have copies of the motion, which he deemed a procedural breach.

Abaribe protested, asserting that the copies were available, leading to a tense atmosphere in the chamber as he insisted on proceeding with the motion.

At this point, the Deputy Senate President remarked that the motion was “controversial,” given the divided opinions of Nigerians on Nwosu’s role during the June 12 election.

When Abaribe eventually moved the motion and it was put to a voice vote, Jibrin ruled in favour of the “nays,” effectively rejecting any further action on the motion.

Further attempts by Abaribe to revisit the motion, including coming under personal explanation, were opposed by the Senate.

An emotional Abaribe queried, “What is wrong with this motion? What is wrong with a motion to immortalise Prof. Nwosu?”