An Igbo group, Ndigbo Cultural Development Organization (NIDO), has declared that celebrating June 12 Democracy Day without honouring the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), constitutes a significant injustice against the Igbo nation.
In a statement released in Umuahia, the group emphasized that the historical significance of June 12 would not have been possible without Professor Nwosu's heroic actions during the 1993 elections.
Don Afuluike, NIDO's Director of Communications and Information, who signed the statement, expressed regret that many Nigerians, including Professor Nwosu, who made significant sacrifices to ensure a return to constitutional governance, have not received proper recognition from the government.
Electoral Legacy and Democracy Assessment
"As Nigeria observes the day, it is an opportunity to reflect on the gains and pains of today's democratic governance riding on the back of seven successive national elections in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 under different electoral umpires," the statement noted.
The group further criticized the quality of elections held since the return to democracy, stating, "Without doubt, a review of each of these elections only leads to an assessment of which is worse than the other in terms of all known indices of assessment of elections."
NIDO highlighted that the "consistent clamour for electoral reforms till date and now periodic amendments to the Electoral Act depicts a sick electoral system which negatively impacts governance at different levels and resulting in growing discontent and lack of trust in Nigeria's elections and democracy."
Call for Recognition
The Igbo group pointed out that it is a glaring injustice that no national asset has been named after Professor Humphrey Nwosu despite his introduction of "Option A4," which they described as Nigeria's most transparent system of conducting elections.
The statement also urged the Anambra State Government, Nwosu's home state, to name a major edifice after him, warning that failure to recognize such contributions could discourage future electoral officials from serving with courage and patriotism.
Professor Humphrey Nwosu is widely credited with conducting what many consider Nigeria's freest and fairest election on June 12, 1993, which was won by Chief MKO Abiola but was subsequently annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
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