Ex-electoral commission chairman, who declared Abiola winner of June 12 1993 elections: Prof. Humphrey Nwosu d!es at 84

Former Chairman of the National Election Commission (now the Independent National Electoral Commission), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu is dead.

Nwosu reportedly d!ed in a hospital in Virginia, USA in the early hours of Thursday, October 24, 2024. He was aged 83.

Born on October 2, 1941, he hailed from the Ajali community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Nwosu served as chairman of NEC from 1989 to 1993.

He conducted the June 12, 1993 election widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest.

In that pivotal election, Chief Moshood Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) emerged victorious over Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).

The election was annulled by former military president Ibrahim Babangida.

Nwosu introduced significant innovations to Nigeria’s electoral process during his tenure, including the Option A4 voting system and the Open Ballot system, which received global recognition.