The Senate has rejected a motion proposing to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in honour of the late Humphrey Nwosu, the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) who oversaw the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election.

The motion, reintroduced by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Thursday after being dismissed a day earlier, also called for a posthumous national honour for Nwosu in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development.

However, the proposal ignited heated debate, with lawmakers sharply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.

Senator Osita Ngwu argued that Nwosu’s inability to announce the election results was due to the constraints of operating under a military regime. “He had no choice but to comply under duress,” Ngwu stated. “That does not erase his contribution to democracy.”

Conversely, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to complete the electoral process. “Nothing should be named after him,” he insisted.

Senator Cyril Fasuyi reinforced this stance, stating that history only rewards results, not effort. “As long as he did not announce the results, regardless of the circumstances, I oppose naming INEC headquarters after him.”

Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu’s silence after the annulment, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would diminish the legacy of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the annulled election. “Anything beyond a one-minute silence is an affront to Abiola’s legacy,” he argued.

Following intense deliberations, the Senate rejected the motion via a voice vote. However, lawmakers agreed to observe a one-minute silence in Nwosu’s honour and extend condolences to his family, effectively ending discussions on any further recognition.