The return of Humphrey Nwosu
By Reuben Abati

SHORTLY after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election by the General Ibrahim Babangida administration, the Chairman of the then electoral body, the National Electoral Commission, quietly withdrew from the public arena and kept his peace. This was most unusual for Professor Humphrey Nwosu, a man who as the head of NEC, built a trademark for himself with his windbaggery and his endless non-verbal gestures, which included jabs in the air and sundry histrionics. But the country desperately wanted to hear from him. It turned out that Nwosu had returned to his teaching position at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, from whence he was brought to do the thankless job of superintending Nigeria's electoral process. No one before or after him has been praised for conducting Nigeria's elections. But Nwosu has been widely praised and acknowledged as the only head of the national electoral commission to conduct an election that was adjudged to be free and fair by both local and international monitors. But after 15 years in the dark, Professor Humphrey Nwosu is back in the public arena. He had shown up briefly in March at a retreat in Sokoto for leaders and Chairmen of political parties in Nigeria organised by INEC in collaboration with Abuja City Press and Communications Ltd.

Two months later, Professor Nwosu is now out with a book on the June 12 phenomenon. He was on television, NTA AM Express programme, on Tuesday, to announce his return. He said he thinks the time is now right for him to share his "experiences" with Nigerians. He claimed as his achievement in this regard, organising the "freest and fairest election" in the history of Nigeria, and transforming the National Electoral Commission from an ad-hoc body into a pensionable organisation that could deliver free and fair elections. He added: "The country must be put right and it requires all of us working together". To show his commitment, he has sent a six-point memo to the National Electoral Reforms Committee.

He has also written a book about the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, to be launched on June 12, 2008, at the Abuja Sheraton. Book reviewer: Colonel Abubakar Umar, the straight talking stormy petrel of the North who resigned his Commission to defend the cause of democracy. It is refreshing to see Professor Nwosu standing at last on June 12, and declaring his position publicly. Fifteen years ago, there were reports that the soldiers, and the anti-June 12 forces, including the notorious Babangida-must-stay, hidden agenda apologists, and the anti-democratic forces in civil society, the judiciary, and the military had put a gun to Nwosu's head. He took to his heels. Over the years, Nwosu had promised journalists that he would speak when he wants. Better late than never. Professor Nwosu certainly has a lot to tell Nigerians, and he has been doing so in bits and pieces since his sudden public resurrection in March 2008. His return is a welcome development.

Humphrey Nwosu may not have been named as one of the heroes of Nigerian democracy by Joe Igbokwe in his book, Heroes of Democracy, being a review of the post-June 12 civil society rebellion, but the Professor may now suddenly begin to look like a hero, because of the messy conduct of all the post-1993 elections in Nigeria: 1999, 2003 and 2007. Professor Maurice Iwu has pointed out that the 1991, 1992 and 1993 elections which Nigerians are now describing as better conducted and free and fair, should not be used as any great yardsticks, because after all, the 1993 election did not produce a President, whereas in 2007, his own INEC managed to produce a President. Iwu is mistaken. The devil is in the details of the comparison. Professor Nwosu's current eloquence is a commentary on Maurice Iwu's INEC. The major achievement that is ascribed to Nwosu's NEC in the public domain is the introduction of what is popularly known as the Option A4 electoral system. In more recent years, there have been calls among the political elite and within civil society for a return to the Option A4 model.

In 1992, after cancelling the Presidential primaries of the Social Democratic Party and the National Republican Convention (NRC), the Armed Forces Ruling Council had directed Nwosu's NEC to come up with "a relatively trouble-free selection process". NEC then subsequently produced eight options, out of which the Babangida government chose Option A4. The new electoral system was codified as electoral law through Presidential Election (Basic Constitutional and Transitional Provisions) Decree 13 of 1993. Omo Omoruyi in his book The Tale of June 12: The Betrayal of the Democratic Rights of Nigerians (1992) has tried to claim the credit for Option A4 for himself and the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) which he led, but please note that the book is significantly devoted to an advertisement of what Professor Omoruyi supposedly did to promote democratisation, and for which, he thinks, others have refused to give him credit (!) but it is a matter of public record that Nwosu's NEC passed the test of implementation of that framework. No matter how brilliant an idea may be in Nigeria, implementation is always the problem. Nwosu, who succeeded his former teacher Professor Eme Awa, as NEC Chairman ran a successful election process which defied all known odds in Nigerian politics. Nobody can take that credit away from him.

Under Option A4, a candidate was required to seek nomination from the ward level to the local to the state and national level, and to win majority votes at all levels or an average of 50 per cent. This was what led to the emergence of two Muslims, MKO Abiola (SDP) and Bashir Tofa (NRC) as Presidential candidates. There was also the Open Ballot System which was used for the local council, national assembly and gubernatorial elections and the Modified Open Ballot System which was used for the June 12, 1993, Presidential election. This electoral framework eliminated the influence of godfathers and party chieftains who had always imposed candidates on the Nigerian electorate. Under both the Open Ballot System (OBS) and the Modified Open Ballot System (MOBS), there was no point stealing ballot boxes, because everything was done in the open. In the OBS, voters queued up behind the candidates of their choice, and the number of voters supporting a candidate was counted in the open and the results collated and announced loudly and publicly at the voting centres across the 111,000 polling centres across the country.

Voting material did not have to arrive late. The voter was the voting material! Party symbols did not disappear, because the candidate was his own symbol, and there were just two parties. In the MOBS, an element of secrecy was introduced, but even then, the results were announced at the polling booth in the presence of everyone. Professor Nwosu and his team conducted an election that placed due emphasis on the voter and protected his choice. This is what made it possible for the results of the June 12, 1993 election to be known. Although after results in 14 states and the FCT, had been displayed by Nwosu's NEC, the military government directed that the announcement should be stopped, but this was pointless because thanks to Option A4, the results were already known. Option A4 was perhaps manageable because there were only two political parties, the SDP and the NRC, the voting process was a lot easier to manage, the people made their choices freely.

Not surprisingly, since his March appearance, Professor Humphrey Nwosu has been recommending a return to Option A4. But there are two things that those who insist on Option A4 overlook. One, its implementation is what is important. There is no electoral framework that is fool-proof. A "trouble-free" electoral framework in the hands of a partisan electoral commission can always be manipulated. Two, a lot depends on the political will of the leadership in power. The Babangida administration may have agreed to Option A4, but just before the Presidential election, it saw the dangers in the choice it had made. That is why the court was used to pass a judgement in the night in favour of the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) purportedly stopping the conduct of the June 12 election, for which reason the anti-June 12 crowd has been arguing that there was no election on June 12, 1993, because it had been stopped by the court of law. The biggest problem with Nigerian democracy is the self-seeking, rent-collecting political elite which would rather impose its will and choices on the people. General Babangida never really wanted democracy. He ran a dictatorial government which was meant to keep him in power; his transition programme was a grand act of deception. Which is why it is most ironic that today, General Babangida has started playing the role of a consultant on democracy. How so easily we forget in this country.

Professor Nwosu has also been quoted as saying that the Electoral Commission must be independent. Opinion is divided on whether or not the National Electoral Commission which he ran was independent. The Professor may offer ideas about electoral reform but the truth about his own NEC was that it was a creation of the military, tied to the apron strings of military politics and eventually sabotaged by its creators. And Professor Nwosu was himself a strong public defender of Babangida's military dictatorship, until the last minutes. And when it mattered most, he could not summon the courage to stand on the side of the progressives. He is also recommending a two-party system. He says 50 odd and weak political parties would confuse the public. Maybe not. Chief Gani Fawehinmi had gone to court, and the point has since been settled that no attempt should be made to restrict the voter's choice. If two political parties must emerge, they should not do so by decree. The SDP and the NRC of the past were artificial creations, ordered into existence, a little to the right (NRC) and a little to the left (SDP) by the military junta.

Professor Nwosu's book would be joining a growing bibliography on Babangida's transition and the June 12 phenomenon, with some of the more celebrated including writings on the subject by Professor Wole Soyinka, Wale Oshun, Joe Igbokwe, Omo Omoruyi, Tunji Olagunju, Adele Jinadu and Sam Oyovbaire, Kayode Fayemi and numerous accounts by the victims of the cruelty of the Babangida government. Whatever Professor Nwosu adds would be definitely useful, but both Nwosu and others must resist the temptation of painting an idyllic picture of the past or of falling into the pit of revisionism. Why did Professor Humphrey Nwosu agree to stop the display of the results? Who put him under pressure? Why did he suddenly abandon the law and succumbed to pressures? Why didn't NEC declare the results officially since it was clear even from the results displayed so far that the election had been won and lost. Professor Nwosu's only shortcoming in the June 12 matter is his lack of conviction. But he deserves to be heard.

Robot  Villager

# 1 The return of Humphrey Nwosu ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 30.05.2008 11:18

ariteni  Villager

# 2 That Humphrey Nwosu had to dodge away in Southern California for a decade and later sneak back into the country evidences an unclear coscience. Nwosu's National Electoral Commission was neither free nor independent. He was a part of Babangida's grand deception but Dr Abati wants us to view him otherwise. Your "democratic Hero" Nwosu was used to unfairly ban and exclude candidates at the election. He conducted elections where candidates including Presidential that did not even register and did not vote emerged "winners" and Nwosu's Commission relished in announcing "ban" of candidates on TV. NO OTHER ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN THE COUNTRY HAS EVER BEEN VESTED WITH THE AWESOME AUTOCRATIC POWERS EXERCISED BY HUMPHEY NWOSU AS ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER. NO PUBLIC AUTHORITY HAS EVER BEEN EMPOWERED TO DISOBEY COURT ORDERS WITH IMPUNITY AS HUMPHREY NWOSU'S NEC. Late Prof Agbalajobi, Hon Sarumi, Greg Nbadiwe, Hyde Onuaguluchi, the 23 Presidential Candidates etc etc are among the victims of Nwosu's autocracy and gross abuse of the people's democratic rights. That Dr Abati, a Pressman wants Nigerians who treasure their freedoms to praise a man that forbade the Press from publishing Election Results that have been PUBLICLY DECLARED is just irritating. Humphey Nwosu, Omo Omoruyi and your "democratic" Colonel Abubakar Umar are all birds of the same feather and members of the same family. That Dr Abati sees no other successful elections conducted in Nigeria is also a sad commentary on Nigeria's national discourse. The credit (if any) for the events culminating in June 12, 1993 Presidential Election belongs to Dr S. J. Cookey whose Polit-Bureau designed the transition but Nwosu and the other Babangida boys simply scuttled the program and implemented their masters secret agenda. Of course, Nwosu and Omo-Omoruyi can now struggle for "credit" which belongs to neither because we are a nation that enthrones impunity by demanding no accountability from public officers. No amount of image laundering will wash away the reality that Babangida's Transition was a monumental disaster and Humphey Nwosu is a proud member of the cruel junta. As for the questions raised in the last paragraph of this article, don't expext any answers from Humphrey Nwosu or Nwosu's book which cannot but be just another commissioned effort to sell the failed transition and launder images. Nwosu's Book cannot re-write history.:rolleyes: Posted by ariteni| 30.05.2008 13:14

Sapele Man  Villager

# 3 =ariteni;4295048125>That Humphrey Nwosu had to dodge away in Southern California for a decade and later sneak back into the country evidences an unclear coscience. Nwosu's National Electoral Commission was neither free nor independent. He was a part of Babangida's grand deception but Dr Abati wants us to view him otherwise. No amount of image laundering will wash away the reality that Babangida's Transition was a monumental disaster and Humphey Nwosu is a proud member of the cruel junta. As for the questions raised in the last paragraph of this article, don't expext any answers from Humphrey Nwosu or Nwosu's book which cannot but be just another commissioned effort to sell the failed transition and launder images. Nwosu's Book cannot re-write history.:rolleyes: ariteni PROF OWUSU IS THE GREATEST HERO OF HIS TIME. A MAN WHO STOOD UP TO BE COUNTED IN SPITE OF AK47 BEEN POINTED AT HIS HEAD BY POWER HUNGRY MILITARY DICTATOR. LET'S REJOICE THAT HE IS BACK AND HEALTHY. Posted by Sapele Man| 30.05.2008 13:52

NWANZA  Villager

# 4 =ariteni;4295048125>. He was a part of Babangida's grand deception but Dr Abati wants us to view him otherwise. Your "democratic Hero" Nwosu was used to unfairly ban and exclude candidates at the election. He conducted elections where candidates including Presidential that did not even register and did not vote emerged "winners" and Nwosu's Commission relished in announcing "ban" of candidates on TV. NO OTHER ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN THE COUNTRY HAS EVER BEEN VESTED WITH THE AWESOME AUTOCRATIC POWERS EXERCISED BY HUMPHEY NWOSU AS ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER. NO PUBLIC AUTHORITY HAS EVER BEEN EMPOWERED TO DISOBEY COURT ORDERS WITH IMPUNITY AS HUMPHREY NWOSU'S NEC. Late Prof Agbalajobi, Hon Sarumi, Greg Nbadiwe, Hyde Onuaguluchi, the 23 Presidential Candidates etc etc are among the victims of Nwosu's autocracy and gross abuse of the people's democratic rights. That Dr Abati, a Pressman wants Nigerians who treasure their freedoms to praise a man that forbade the Press from publishing Election Results that have been PUBLICLY DECLARED is just irritating. Humphey Nwosu, Omo Omoruyi and your "democratic" Colonel Abubakar Umar are all birds of the same feather and members of the same family. That Dr Abati sees no other successful elections conducted in Nigeria is also a sad commentary on Nigeria's national discourse. The credit (if any) for the events culminating in June 12, 1993 Presidential Election belongs to Dr S. J. Cookey whose Polit-Bureau designed the transition but Nwosu and the other Babangida boys simply scuttled the program and implemented their masters secret agenda. Of course, Nwosu and Omo-Omoruyi can now struggle for "credit" which belongs to neither because we are a nation that enthrones impunity by demanding no accountability from public officers. No amount of image laundering will wash away the reality that Babangida's Transition was a monumental disaster and Humphey Nwosu is a proud member of the cruel junta. As for the questions raised in the last paragraph of this article, don't expext any answers from Humphrey Nwosu or Nwosu's book which cannot but be just another commissioned effort to sell the failed transition and launder images. Nwosu's Book cannot re-write history.:rolleyes: Gang recognize gang and it is fruitless for them to come out now with a book about June 12. We all want them to start talking and writing their part of the "Grand Deception". By the grace of God, the people of this wretched country will put one-and-two together to expose the real truth. There is an avalanche of cynicism around people recruited by known tyrants to sensitive public institutions like NEC, NNPC, NITEL, and NEPA. These so called professors from the academia did not build an institution that could withstand the test of time. They lacked the guts to build a foundation that is autonomous and respected. How is history going to judge these men and women of that shameless generation, who talk the talk and do not walk the walk? Posted by NWANZA| 30.05.2008 15:35

surulere007  Villager

# 5 Is Dr. Abati writing to generate intellectual discussion through this propaganda article of his or is he part of the last minute grand illusion being used to legitimate a very huge wrong done unto Nigeria nation? Or has he forgotten that the people whose lives were changed forever by the combination of Nwosu/ Babangida machinery are still alive and very bitter? I want to believe that prof. Nwosu is making mockery of a collective lot and I won’t be surprise if Babangida also comes out with his own account by year ending ….history will reveal what transpire with these men. we siddon dey look! Posted by surulere007| 30.05.2008 16:05

Agidimolaja  Villager

# 6 First it was Omoruyi.He came up with his "The tale of June 12" He wrote the perverse book after he and his friend or fellow conspirator,IBB ,fell apart and were no loger in good terms. I rushed out then to get a copy of the book in aticipation that the whole world would now be led to the discovery of the truth about June 12. I was wrong! The book unfortunately turned out to be merely a tale as the author tittled it.Tale but not the truth. Poor Omoruyi;when are you going to write "The truth of June 12"?The tale that you wrote is a waste of time and energy for you the writer and us the readers. We needed the truth, and you know the truth. Enter Prof Nwosu. Is his own book going to be the discovery of the truth or another tale? I can't wait to read it. I don't know too much about Prof Nwosu other than when he championed the election of 1993.People say that he is a credible man. But is there a credible man in IBB's camp? Not the likes of Omoruyi,Alex Akinyele etc. I'm always slow to apply the word "credible" in reference to any of IBB's past or present associate. Until I read what Prof Nwosu packaged as book about June 12 before I can arrive at a verdict. As for Col. Abubakar Umar who is going to be the chief launcher, pls excuse me. No one should take that former IBB boy seriously. He decommission himself because of June 12 fraud,at least that was what they told us. And so what? Why did he wait till after June 12 before he do it?Was he not part of IBB's misrule right from the begining to the end?Did he not enjoy all that was happening then?Was he not a Military Governor under IBB? As a Military Governor then, did he not know that IBB was misruling and misleading this nation? Yet, he did not resign nor decommission? We may never know the truth but I doubt this man so much if June 12 was the sole reason why he decommissioned. Recently he wrote bunch of useless nonsense about Obj. But Obj,his former Commander in Chief and Superior Officer was his good friend.What broke their friendship?He should to tell us what happened. How did he know that Obj has so many landed properties and investments? If Abubakar is convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that Obj got any of those illegally;why not file complain with the authority? Even in his listings and rantings,he did not mention the name of the Banks neither did he list the exact site of Obj's properties in Abuja including the Palaces he built and still building. And why did he pick on Obj alone?What about his Hausa/Fulani people {including his State Governor}that have been looting the treasury of this nation massively?I'm yet to read a piece written about them by this former IBB boy. When it counted so much,he did not talk.Why is he now talking? Like when his Hausa/Fulani people were killing Southerners in the North{including women and children},we did not hear him talking nor leading protest march on behalf of those totally unarmed and defenceless Southerners. Why is he now talking? Please Prof.Nwosu,find another credible man to help you launch your book if in truth it is a book with substance and not just another pathetic tale. Posted by Agidimolaja| 31.05.2008 01:24

akuluouno  Villager

# 7 Dear Villagers, You expect any smoking guns from HN if u want, this lady does not even expect a glowing flint :D:D:D from his memoirs. Let him simply tell us who won the freeest and fairest elections in Nigeria:evil::evil::evil::evil::evil: Posted by akuluouno| 31.05.2008 11:15

KennyJop  Villager

# 8 =akuluouno;4295048465>Dear Villagers, You expect any smoking guns from HN if u want, this lady does not even expect a glowing flint :D:D:D from his memoirs. Let him simply tell us who won the freeest and fairest elections in Nigeria:evil::evil::evil::evil::evil: That man was, and still is, considered in many quarters in the European continent, as a great man. But the 'freest elections' that made him great, as I saw it when he headed the elections in Nigeria, was less a result of his personal effort and genius but more a result of the Nigerian politicians and electorates of that era conducting themselves in honest ways because they had military guns aimed at their heads. Fear of the military was the key. That fear was not present in the last election because the military was not in charge of it and that was why honesty and civility resulted in the wrost forms of election corruptions. Fear of death or physical harm will always make people suddenly honest. Posted by KennyJop| 31.05.2008 11:37

FoxCatcher  Villager

# 9 As I once wrote elsewhere: in seeking authentic evidence of events in hell, the devil would be a most credible witness. How much more where we have the opportunity of hearing several devils???? Somewhere in the midst of the lies and posturings, we should be able to discern where the truth lies. So welcome Prof.... the more the merrier. Ciao Posted by FoxCatcher| 01.06.2008 15:05

FoxCatcher  Villager

# 10 =KennyJop;4295048468>That man was, and still is, considered in many quarters in the European continent, as a great man. But the 'freest elections' that made him great, as I saw it when he headed the elections in Nigeria, was less a result of his personal effort and genius but more a result of the Nigerian politicians and electorates of that era conducting themselves in honest ways because they had military guns aimed at their heads. Fear of the military was the key. That fear was not present in the last election because the military was not in charge of it and that was why honesty and civility resulted in the wrost forms of election corruptions. Fear of death or physical harm will always make people suddenly honest. @KennyJop, From ur avatar, am not sure whether you're caucasian or 'God's own color'? :D:D:D But me thinks u've hit the nail on the head: GBAM. Unfortunately, that did not work in 1999 as the military establishment had their candidate. Perhaps Babangida & co failed to indicate whether they were 'a lil 2 d rite' or 'a lil 2 d left' :smile:and thereby 'accidentally' created an historic watershed elections. :idea: Who knows????:cool::D Posted by FoxCatcher| 01.06.2008 15:17