A prominent pro-Igbo advocacy group, the Ndi Igbo Intellectual & Cultural Development Organization (NIDO), has condemned what it terms a glaring double standard in Nigeria’s commemoration of Democracy Day on June 12 without duly honouring the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu. Professor Nwosu, who served as the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) during the 1993 presidential election, is credited with overseeing what is widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. Despite the national and international acclaim for the transparency and credibility of that election, the group expressed disappointment that Nwosu remains largely unacknowledged in official narratives.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Dr. Christian Afulike, the group’s Director of Communications and Information, NIDO described the continued neglect of Professor Nwosu’s legacy as a deep injustice. The organization called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently correct this oversight by naming a significant national institution or monument after Nwosu as a gesture of appreciation for his contributions to Nigerian democracy. They emphasized that this act of recognition would serve not only to honour his memory but also inspire current and future electoral officers to uphold integrity and professionalism.
According to NIDO, while former President Muhammadu Buhari officially recognized the June 12, 1993 election and posthumously honoured Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the presumed winner, the Nigerian state has seemingly forgotten the man behind the success of that historic process. They noted that it is inconsistent to celebrate the election and its outcome while ignoring the electoral umpire who ensured its credibility.
The group went further to criticize successive governments for their failure to celebrate competence and integrity, suggesting that this neglect has contributed to the declining quality of elections in Nigeria. The organization linked the current inefficiencies and irregularities in the country’s electoral system to the failure to adequately reward those who have demonstrated exemplary service.
They also urged the Anambra State Government, Nwosu’s home state, to take the lead in immortalizing him, stressing that this would align with democratic values and serve as a morale booster for civil servants and electoral officials. NIDO concluded by reflecting on the nation’s 24 years of uninterrupted democracy, asserting that while the symbolic shift of Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 was a step in the right direction, it remains incomplete without recognizing all key figures—including Nwosu—who played pivotal roles in advancing Nigeria’s democratic journey.