President Bola Tinubu has awarded a national honor to late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman, ending months of controversy surrounding the recognition. The decision comes despite strong opposition from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who previously argued that Nwosu did not deserve the honor for his role in Nigeria’s disputed 1993 presidential election.
Kola Abiola, eldest son of the late business mogul MKO Abiola, has publicly supported the presidential decision, arguing that Nwosu earned recognition for his efforts to ensure his father’s victory was properly declared despite military interference.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV from 5:34, Kola Abiola dismissed criticisms of the honor. “I don’t even have a problem with that; I think he (Humphrey Nwosu) deserves to be honored, to be honest with you,” Abiola stated.
Kola Abiola drew from personal interactions with the late electoral chief to support his position. “He’s somebody I met, and I spoke to him, and I interviewed him. And I think he did his very best to uphold his job description,” he explained.
However, he suggested that other key figures from the 1993 election should also receive recognition. “Even if you’re going to nominate him for national honor, you must also remember someone like NEC Legal Director, Bello Bukhari, who went to court. I’m not sure of the criteria they use or their understanding of events; but someone like that cannot be left out,” he said, referring to Bukhari’s contributions.
Bello Bukhari emerged as a crucial figure during Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election, serving as NEC’s Director of Legal Services. His role extended beyond administrative duties as he actively shaped the transition to civilian rule and developed the legal framework governing the historic election.
Bukhari demonstrated remarkable courage by presenting legal arguments before the military government’s National Defence and Security Council, successfully influencing their decision to proceed with the election as originally scheduled. His legal advocacy proved instrumental when he defended NEC’s constitutional authority to conduct the election, even after the Attorney General withdrew government support for the process. Late Professor Nwosu in his book spoke about his steadfastness against the antics of the anti-June 12 strategists.
