Tempers flared in the Senate on Wednesday following a motion to honour the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), who supervised the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
During discussions, concerns were raised about maintaining the integrity of Senate rules, with some lawmakers warning against setting dangerous precedents that could undermine the ability of senators to interject and voice critical concerns. A debate unfolded regarding the interpretation of Order 38, which outlines the sequence of business in Senate sittings. Some senators contended that strict adherence to procedural order could restrict important discussions, while others emphasized the need for structured legislative proceedings.
A major point of contention was whether senators should be allowed to raise personal explanations outside the designated time frame. Referring to Order 42, which permits senators to make personal statements without sparking debate, lawmakers engaged in a back-and-forth discussion on the appropriateness of applying this rule after the designated period had passed. Senate leaders clarified that while personal explanations are permitted, they must adhere to the stipulated procedural framework unless the Senate collectively decides otherwise.
The controversy arose when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe proposed a motion under personal explanation to immortalize the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), who oversaw the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The motion, co-sponsored by several senators, sought to immortalize Nwosu for his role in defending the democratic process during the annulled election. While some senators supported the motion as a means of recognizing a key figure in Nigeria’s democratic history, others argued that the issue remained contentious due to differing historical perspectives
“Even if the Senate leader says that it doesn’t follow, by the fact that a senator wants to make a personal explanation, you must give that senator a chance to make that personal explanation. We are not under a dictatorship,” Abaribe argued.
Professor Nwosu, who led NEC from 1989 to 1993, passed away at 83 in a hospital in the United States on March 1, 2024.
His tenure was marked by his role in organizing the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest polls before it was annulled.
The current INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had recently called for a posthumous national honour for Nwosu in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s electoral system.
Professor Nwosu will be laid to rest on Friday, March 28, in his hometown in Anambra State.