Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) has been posthumously awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) honour.
The award conferred on Nwosu by President Bola Tinubu during the 2025 celebration of the June 12 Democracy Day, was in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
During his address to a joint session of the National Assembly, Tinubu praised Nwosu for introducing a new era of electoral transparency in Nigeria.
“Professor Nwosu stood for truth, transparency, and a new vision of electoral integrity in Nigeria. His memory is a national treasure,” the President stated.
Ikengaonline reports that the award was a part of a larger recognition of 66 Nigerians who had played pivotal roles in shaping the country’s democratic history.
Other notable awardees include Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who was posthumously conferred with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), and Kudirat Abiola, who received the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) award.
Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has described the posthumous honour on Nwosu as “long overdue” and called on President Tinubu to go further by naming the INEC headquarters after Nwosu as a more fitting tribute to his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development.
In a statement issued by Ezechi Chukwu, the national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the organisation said: “The idea of honouring him is welcomed. Though it is late, we appreciate the fact that he has finally been honoured.
“It is also our desire that INEC Headquarters be named after Prof. Humphrey Nwosu for the virtue of his role in Nigeria’s democracy during the military.”
Professor Nwosu who passed on in October 2024, was widely acclaimed for organising the freest and fairest presidential election in Nigeria on June 12, 1993, which was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
