The Senate has thrown out prayers contained in a motion seeking to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.

TheNigerian Online reports that Nwosu oversaw the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rted).

The motion was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after lawmakers threw it out on Wednesday.

Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.

Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.

He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”

Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.

On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.

Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.

“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.

Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.

“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.

After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.

They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.

An aspirant of the Labour Party in the Anambra State 2025 governorship election, Mr John Nwosu has denied rumours making the round that he has stepped down for another aspirant of the party, Mr George Moghalu.

A press statement by the Director General of John Nwosu Campaign organisation, Ben Chuks Nwosu, which was made available to journalists in Awka stated that there is no truth in the rumour.

Part of the statement read: “The attention of the John Chuma Nwosu Campaign Organisation has been drawn to the scurrilous rumour making the rounds that John C. Nwosu, the leading Labour Aspirant for the 2025 Governorship has stepped down for Chief George Moghalu, another LP aspirant. This is a lie of enormous proportion.

“John Chuma Nwosu is set for the 5 April, 2025 party primaries. The Labour Party delegates will decide who will be the party’s candidate. Party nomination cannot be won through lies, subterfuge and mischievous fake news.”

He said the aspirant, Mr John Nwosu just returned his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, which he purchased and filled just the previous day at the Labour Party National Secretariat in Abuja, and that the issue of stepping down never arose.

He insisted that his principal is very much in the race while urging party faithfuls to disregard such distractive misinformation.

The founder and first national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has urged  President Bola Tinubu to name the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja after late Professor Humphrey Nwosu for the critical role he played as chairman of the electoral body during the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria.

Okorie described Nwosu, the national Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) as one of the most visible unsung heroes of the much celebrated June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The former Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of APGA however expressed sadness that Nwosu has not been accorded the recognition he deserved.

Okorie recalled that Nigerians commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day in the place of May 29, and that Buhari also affirmed late Chief M.K.O Abiola, the winner of the June 12 presidential election, along with Alhaji Babagana Kingigbe as his running mate.

He noted that the two were accordingly honored with the requisite National Honors of GCFR and GCON, respectively.

“Regrettably, no mention was made of Professor Humphrey Nwosu in the honors list for the historic June 12 election. Professor Nwosu had long before President Buhari honoured the June 12 heroes written his book where he gave account of the true outcome of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, including the figures scored by Chief MKO Abiola the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and Alhaji Bashir Tofa, the presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention, NRC, showing Chief Abiola’s resounding victory in that election.

“The undisputed fact is that there would be no June 12 celebration in Nigeria without Professor Humphrey Nwosu. He stuck out his neck in the face of obvious threats to his life by a military junta determined to scuttle the election and announced the actual election results.

“This did not prevent General Ibrahim Babangida, the military President of Nigeria, from proceeding to annul the election,” he said.

He said that after more than 30 years, General Ibrahim Babangida publicly presented his memoir, in which he vindicated Nwosu.

“He even boasted that it was under his watch that Nigeria had the fairest and freest presidential election. Yet the architect of this unprecedented national feat remained unsung. The big question is, when will Nigeria have the good fortune to have the likes of Professor Humphrey Nwosu to preside over our Independent National Electoral Commission again?

“President Muhammadu Buhari has done his own bit by giving Nigeria a more acceptable Democracy Day, which is June 12, and honored late MKO Abiola as former President and a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR. The ball is now in the court of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give Professor Nwosu a befitting National Honour.

“Unfortunately, Professor Humphrey Nwosu died recently and his burial programme has been announced by his family.  It is the expectation of Nigerians that President Tinubu should authorize a national burial for him. It will be to the credit of President Tinubu, the only true civilian to be elected President of Nigeria after President Shehu Shagari and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to approve the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be named after PROFESSOR HUMPHREY NWOSU,” he said.

A businessman, Prince Uzo Nwosu Jnr, has emphasised that the transformative power of entrepreneurship and education were the requirements to drive sustainable development in Nigeria.

Nwosu, who’s the Chief Operating Officer of Zomax Properties Limited, made the assertion in Lagos on Wednesday, while being honoured by the Centre for Leadership and Creative Entrepreneurs in Africa Ltd/GTE (CELCE-AFRICA), for being an agent of youthful entrepreneurial development across Nigeria.

At the forum put together by CELCE-AFRICA to commemorate the United Nations International Day for Education, the non-governmental organisation celebrated innovation and leadership geared towards advancement of entrepreneurial initiatives amongst young entrepreneurs.

The body bestowed its prestigious Global Entrepreneurship Award on Prince Nwosu Jnr at the Rockview Hotel Conference Center in Festac Town, Lagos.

According to CELCE-AFRICA, Prince Nwozu Jnr was counted worthy of the award, having made significant contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape of the country.

In his acceptance speech after receiving the award, Prince Nwozu harped on the importance of education as a catalyst for economic growth and social change.

Nwozu said that, “This award is not just a personal achievement; it is a recognition of the collective efforts of all those who believe in the transformative power of entrepreneurship and education.

“Together, we can create opportunities that will shape the future of Nigeria.”

The Director General/CEO of CELCE-AFRICA, Ambassador Kingsley Enwelim Nwanze, earlier expressed the commitment of the body to always support entrepreneurs and fostering a culture of innovation across Africa, adding that the theme of this year’s celebration focused on “Artificial Intelligence and Education: Preserving the Human Agency in Automation.”

“It highlights the importance of humanity in our pursuit for technology, particularly Digital Technology.

“The organisation aims to create platforms for collaboration and knowledge sharing, ensuring that the next generation of leaders is equipped with the skills and resources needed to thrive in a competitive global economy,” he stated.

Ambassador Nwanze noted that, “Prince Uzo Nwosu Jnr’s recognition at this esteemed event underscores the vital intersection of education and entrepreneurship, inspiring others to pursue their dreams and contribute to the development of their communities.”

The event brought together distinguished guests, including government officials, business leaders, educators, and youth advocates, all united in their mission to promote entrepreneurship and education as key drivers of sustainable development.

Students from private secondary schools in Amuwo-Odofin federal constituency of Lagos State were also in attendance to grasp hands-on entrepreneurial nuggets from achievers in the sector.