Former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), Professor Humphrey Nwosu, has passed away.
He reportedly died in a hospital in the United States, according to a reliable source. An official statement regarding his death is expected to be released soon.
Nwosu, born on October 2, 1941, was appointed NEC Chairman by the then Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, and serving from 1989 to 1993.
When he was in charge as the electoral umpire, he conducted Nigeria’s historic June 12, 1993 election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the country’s history.
The election saw Chief Moshood Abiola as the presumed winner. The election was then annulled.
Chief Abiola, of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), beat Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).
Nwosu’s legacy remains deeply intertwined with the June 12 election, which has since become a symbol of democratic struggle in Nigeria.