Another June 12 Curtain Falls, as Humphrey Nwosu, Prof. Who Conducted Election, Declared M K O Abiola Winner, Dies
By Omowumi Omotosho
Another curtain fell on the annulled June 12, 2993 presidential election on Thursday as the man who oversaw the conduct of the election, Prof Humphrey Nwosu, bid the world goodbye.
Nwosu who was the National chairman of the electoral body, then known as National Electoral Commission (NEC), reportedly died in a Virginia hospital, far away in the United States.
He was aged 83.
Nwosu hailed from Ajali community, Orumba north LGA of Anambra state.
A professor of political science, Nwosu headed the electoral commission from 1989 to 1993. NEC is now known as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He oversaw the June 12, 1993 presidential election which is regarded as the freest and most credible in Nigeria’s history.
The election was presumably won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and was annulled by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, then military head of state.
Nwosu had gone on exile after the annulment.
In 2018, Nwosu said: “Indeed, June 12, 1993 marked a turning point in Nigeria’s tortuous journey towards a democratic polity.
“Undoubtedly, the democratic system of governance is the best especially for a multi-ethnic nation like ours.
“It is our hope that expanding the frontiers of democracy will provide economic, social and developmental benefits that will certainly make Nigeria a great nation not only in Africa but across the world.”
