ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, rejected a motion seeking to immortalise the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), now the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), sparking a wave of criticism from some lawmakers.
The motion, raised by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia South) under Senate Orders 41 and 51, aimed to honour Nwosu for his significant contributions to the democratic process, particularly his role in overseeing the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which is widely regarded as the most credible in Nigeria’s history.
However, the motion faced opposition, and when put to a voice vote, the ‘nays’ prevailed, resulting in its rejection.
Senator Abaribe expressed his frustration following the vote, questioning why the motion had been deemed controversial.
“Mr. President, I don’t see what is controversial about immortalising Humphrey Nwosu. That is our problem—what exactly is controversial about it?” he asked, pointing out that the motion was not only timely but also a fitting tribute to Nwosu’s legacy as a defender of Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
However, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, argued that Abaribe had failed to follow the proper procedure.
He explained that the timing for raising matters of urgent public importance had already elapsed, as per the Senate’s schedule, and therefore the motion should have been reintroduced formally on the next legislative day.
Bamidele emphasized that there was a procedural flaw in the presentation of the motion.
In contrast, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP-Kebbi) warned against setting a “dangerous precedent” by restricting when senators could raise personal explanations.
“Point of Order and Personal Explanation can be raised at any time. We must not deny senators the opportunity to interject or intervene when necessary,” Abdullahi argued.
The motion’s rejection has sparked further debate, with critics claiming the decision was undemocratic.
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today later in the day, condemning the Senate’s actions as unjust.
He argued that the Senate should have allowed the motion to be debated, as such matters are routinely discussed in the chamber.
“This motion came today at the most timely moment because he will be buried on Friday, two days away. Shutting down the motion the way it was done this morning is very undemocratic,” Umeh explained.
He also expressed his dismay at the treatment of Nwosu, who oversaw the annulled June 12 election and is remembered for his role in promoting a transparent and credible electoral process.
Umeh contended that rejecting the motion was unfair to Nwosu, who he believes gave his all for Nigeria.
