Former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Professor Humphrey Nwosu, has reportedly died.
NEC is what is now known as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aged 83, Prof. Nwosu was born in born on October 2, 1941.
Nwosu was appointed by military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida and is best known for overseeing the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most free and fair election.
In that pivotal election, Chief Moshood Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) emerged victorious over Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
Under Nwosu’s leadership, the commission introduced the innovative Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system, which significantly transformed the electoral process in Nigeria.
However, despite announcing several election results, Nwosu was ultimately ordered by the Babangida regime to cease further announcements concerning the June 12 election, as its outcome was later deem to have been annulled.
