Labour Party leader and presidential candidate in the 2023 polls, Peter Obi, has described the late National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, as an exceptional electoral umpire.

Mr Nwosu died in Virginia, United States of America, on Thursday at the age of 83.

In his tribute entitled: “In Prof. Nwosu, A True Democrat Exits,” Mr Obi described the former NEC chairman as a principled academic who brought to bear in his job the principle he taught in the classroom as a political scientist.

Mr Obi wrote in X handle, “I have just received the sad news of the death of the former chairman of the National Electoral Commission, NEC, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.

“Prof. Nwosu was a true Democrat, an outstanding academician whose love for democracy and its values was demonstrated in the manner he carried out his responsibilities as electoral umpire between 1989 to 1993.

“His courageous defence of democratic principles, even under a non-democratic government, put him out as a man who was ready, even to sacrifice his life for the sake of democracy and good governance.

“For his pivotal role in holding and upholding the 1993 presidential elections, Prof. Nwosu’s name will remain indelible in the history of Nigerian democracy.

“He stood for the truth in Nigeria, standing for the truth and the best tenets of democracy when it was delicate and even dangerous to do so.

“It’s, however, disheartening to note that what Prof. Nwosu did when the nation’s electoral commission was not even legally independent; when billions of taxpayers’ money were not deployed as it is today with an accompanying updated technology, could not be repeated in contemporary times in a supposed full democratic system.”

The former LP presidential candidate said that, as an academic, Mr Nwosu brought to bear all the principles he taught in the classroom as an erudite professor of political science.

This, he said, was unlike these days when professors were procured to aid electoral malpractices, including announcing results of elections they did not verify.

“For the new Nigeria we desire, the country needs more of Professor Nwosu, who will risk their lives for democracy.

“I pray God to forgive his shortcomings while on earth, grant his soul eternal repose, and his family and all lovers of democracy who mourn him the fortitude to bear the huge loss.

“May God Almighty grant Nigeria the likes of Professor Humphrey Nwosu in her future elections. A new Nigeria is indeed Possible,” Mr Obi said.

Mr Nwosu, born on Oct. 2, 1941, was appointed NEC chairman by then military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, serving from 1989 to 1993.

During his tenure as NEC chairman, Mr Nwosu was reputed to have conducted Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993 election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.

The election, which saw Moshood Abiola as the presumed winner, was, however, annulled by the then military government. 

(NAN)