The Senate on Wednesday rejected a motion to immortalize former National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman Humphrey Nwosu, who supervised the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia South) introduced the motion under Senate Orders 41 and 51, but it faced opposition.
When put to a voice vote, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, ruled against it.
Frustrated by the rejection, Abaribe questioned why the motion was deemed controversial.
“I don’t see what is controversial about immortalizing Humphrey Nwosu. That is our problem what exactly is controversial about it?” he asked.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele countered that Abaribe had failed to follow proper legislative procedure, explaining that he cited an order too late.
“Matters of urgent public importance and personal explanations have a specific timeframe, which has already elapsed,” Bamidele said.
He advised Abaribe to reintroduce the motion formally on another legislative day.
However, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP-Kebbi) warned against restricting senators’ ability to raise personal explanations, arguing that such interventions should be allowed at any time.
Deputy Senate President Barau also criticized Abaribe’s procedural inconsistency, pointing out that he initially referenced Orders 41 and 51 but later attempted to invoke Order 42 after the motion was rejected.
Humphrey Nwosu, who led the NEC from 1989 to 1993, passed away on October 24, 2024, at the age of 83. His burial is scheduled for March 28, 2025.
