A dramatic scene unfolded in the Nigerian Senate on Thursday, March 27, 2025, as senators from the South-East caucus, led by Enyinnaya Abaribe, stormed out of the chamber in protest.
The walkout followed a contentious voice vote in which South-West senators, including prominent figure Adams Oshiomhole, rejected a motion to immortalize Humphrey Nwosu, the late former chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC). The motion, reintroduced by Abaribe—senator for Abia South and chairman of the South-East caucus—sought to honor Nwosu’s legacy as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democratic history.
The proposal, initially tabled during Wednesday’s plenary session and revisited on Thursday, carried significant weight for the South-East lawmakers. Abaribe, backed by 15 co-sponsors, argued that Nwosu’s contributions warranted national recognition. Specifically, he proposed naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja after Nwosu. “This is a man who laid the foundation for INEC in 1993, overseeing the construction of its early framework before the military regime dissolved the NEC,” Abaribe stated on the Senate floor. He further highlighted Nwosu’s role in conducting the June 12, 1993, presidential election—an exercise widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, despite its annulment by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The motion didn’t stop at infrastructure. Abaribe also urged the federal government, under President Bola Tinubu, to confer a posthumous national honor on Nwosu, placing him alongside other celebrated figures of the June 12 struggle, such as Moshood Abiola. The proposal garnered broad support beyond the South-East, with endorsements from Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, Ned Nwoko (Delta North), and Kebbi senators Adamu Aliero and Yahaya Abdullahi. “This is about justice for a man who shaped our democracy,” Abaribe insisted, noting that Nwosu’s efforts had been overlooked for decades.
However, the motion met fierce resistance from South-West senators. When Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin put the resolutions to a voice vote, the “nays” from the South-West bloc, led by Oshiomhole, drowned out the “ayes.” The rejection sparked outrage among the South-East caucus, who viewed it as a slight against Nwosu’s legacy and their region’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey. In a spontaneous act of defiance, Abaribe and his colleagues marched out of the chamber, their footsteps echoing through the hallowed halls as they headed to address the press.
Outside, Abaribe minced no words. “We are deeply displeased with the Senate’s rejection of our motion to immortalize Professor Humphrey Nwosu,” he told journalists. “Our first prayer was simple: recommend to the executive that the INEC headquarters be named after him, given his foundational role. This isn’t a new idea—it aligns with what Professor Attahiru Jega, a former INEC chairman, said just days ago at a colloquium honoring Nwosu. Jega expressed shock that Nigeria has yet to recognize a man whose legacy underpins the electoral system we enjoy today.” Abaribe pointed to Nwosu’s courage in overseeing the 1993 election, despite immense pressure from the military, as evidence of his heroism.
The caucus had also proposed a fallback option: a posthumous national honor. “Even that was rejected,” Abaribe lamented. “We’re not asking for the moon—just recognition for a patriot who gave Nigeria its most credible election.” The senator appealed directly to President Tinubu, a known beneficiary of the democratic struggle tied to June 12, to intervene and rectify what he called “a national oversight.”
Meanwhile, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya, representing Jigawa constituency, threw his weight behind the South-East caucus, sharply criticizing the motion’s detractors. “Senators rejecting his immortalization know nothing about what happened during his time as NEC chairman,” Yahaya declared. “Nwosu deserves respect for his sacrifices, and it’s shameful that some refuse to acknowledge his contributions to our democracy.” Yahaya’s pointed remarks added a cross-regional voice to the debate, amplifying the call for Nwosu’s recognition.
The walkout has reignited discussions about Nigeria’s treatment of its democratic pioneers. Nwosu, who died in obscurity years after his tenure, remains a polarizing figure—lauded by some as a hero, dismissed by others as a footnote. For the South-East caucus, the Senate’s decision was a bitter pill, amplifying long-standing grievances about marginalization. “If this government is serious about unity, it must honor those who built our democracy, regardless of where they came from,” Abaribe concluded.
As the dust settles, all eyes are on President Tinubu. Will he heed the call to immortalize Nwosu, or will the late NEC chairman remain an unsung architect of Nigeria’s electoral legacy? For now, the South-East senators, bolstered by allies like Yahaya, have made their stance clear: they will not let Nwosu’s contributions fade into oblivion without a fight.
