Following South-East Senators’ Protest, Tinubu Honours Humphrey Nwosu 

Humphrey Nwosu, erstwhile chairman of the now-defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC)

President Bola Tinubu has bestowed the prestigious Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) upon Humphrey Nwosu, the late former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), which is no longer operational.

On March 27, the Senate dismissed a motion to immortalize Nwosu by renaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja in his honor.

The motion, championed by Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia South, was thwarted, inciting the south-east caucus to stage a walkout from the chamber.

Tinubu proclaimed the national honor on Thursday during his speech at a joint session of the National Assembly, commemorating the 2025 Democracy Day.

While acknowledging the pivotal role of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola as the central figure of June 12, Tinubu emphasized that Nigerians must not overlook the extensive list of individuals who equally merit recognition as heroes of the nation’s democracy.

“The struggle transcended any singular group or region of the country; it was pan-Nigerian in its inception and will remain so as we endeavor to refine it,” the president declared.

Nwosu, appointed by former military President Ibrahim Babangida, oversaw the landmark 1993 election, widely believed to have been won by Abiola.

The election was subsequently annulled by the military, plunging the nation into political chaos and years of pro-democracy agitation.

In 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged Abiola as the rightful victor of the election and declared June 12 as Democracy Day.