Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, Nigeria’s most credible electoral umpire is dead

Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the man adjudged to have conducted Nigeria’s freest and fairest election in 1993 has passed away. Nwosu was instrumental in organizing Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993 election. Nwosu died in a Virginia hospital in the United States at the age of 83, according to SaharaReporters. Appointed by the then military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, Nwosu oversaw the election that many still regard as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history. The election saw Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) emerge victorious over Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Nwosu’s leadership at the NEC, now known as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), introduced the innovative Option A4 and Open Ballot voting systems. These reforms were aimed at enhancing transparency and credibility in the electoral process. Despite his efforts, Nwosu was forced to halt the release of the election results by the Babangida regime before the final tally could be announced. The military later annulled the election, sparking widespread protests and political unrest. In July 2024, the Nigerian House of Representatives called on President Bola Tinubu to immortalize Nwosu for his role in conducting what is still considered Nigeria’s most credible election since independence.

Why My Brother Is Not Fit To Be The President Of Nigeria – MKO Abiola’s Son, Abdul

Abdul, one of the sons of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO Abiola), has claimed that his elder brother, Kola is not fit to be the president of Nigeria. Like his father, Kola contested for the presidency on the platform of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2023 elections. However, Abdul stated that Kola failed in his duty to manage Abiola’s empire. He lamented over his brother’s failure to sustain Abiola’s political legacy and unite the family. Abdul stated this while speaking on Seun Okinbaloye’s Podcast, Mic On. According to him, “MKO Abiola’s legacy would have been properly sustained if Kola was in a better position and could have been a voice of better democratic values, but he chose not to. “During the time my father was still in jail, he was having a relationship with Babangida’s daughter. It’s sad, but I’m a little pleased that my father didn’t come out to see what his first son has turned out to become. “I’m unhappy with him, and even Nigerians are unhappy. You can see how many people voted for him when he campaigned for the presidency. I wondered how he thought he could be president when he could not manage Abiola’s empire. How will he manage Nigeria? “This is the problem in Nigeria: people are not showing capacity in their own little sphere of work but want a higher position.”