Okey Maduforo 
…Laments Non-Recognition Of Prof Humphrey Nwosu/INECs Lack Of Independence.
Ohaneze Ndigbo has described the June 12 national broadcast of President Bola Tinubu as poorly prepared contending that while he recognized the contributions of many Nigerians to the struggle he failed to mention the then Chairman of National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
The body further insisted that the true meaning of Democracy Day celebration is for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be truly independent, adding that despite the June 12 struggle the Commission had remained a biased umpire which Tinubu benefited from.
According to the National Vice President of Ohaneze Ndigbo Chief Damian Okeke Ogene; “It is very unfortunate that the President made a Broadcast and forgot a person like Prof Humphrey Nwosu who almost put his life on the ground in the course of discharging his duties as the Chairman of National Electoral Commission NEC”
“I don’t think that it was an oversight because it is poorly written and you cannot mention those people that fought for democracy and forget Humphrey Nwosu who made it public about the outcome of that election”
“Had it been that Nwosu did not go on air to announce the initial set of results which showed that late MKO Abiola is leading comfortably how would Nigerians have known?
“Last time under Buhari administration a similar thing played out and one wonders if it is a deliberate thing to forget Humphrey Nwosu ”
“On the importance of this Democracy Day, I see it as yet another opportunity for us as Nigerians to reflect on the independence of our Electoral Commission”
“Despite the struggle, INEC is still not Independent and the only way to ensure democracy is for the Commission to be totally independent and unfortunately the current President benefited from that ” he said.
Ogene noted that the only way forward is to go back to the Constructional Conference Report and see it implemented to the letter adding that the handicap of the country’s democracy is that the Umpire is like a ministry under the federal government and does not have the legal and financial autonomy to operate.
“A body like this should be on its own and should be funded independently as well as the fact that the Chairman and key officers
