Attacks on INEC Boss Risk Eroding Public Confidence, CSOs Warn

A coalition of civil society organizations has sounded a grave warning regarding the persistent attacks targeting Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These groups, including the Humanities Welfare and Social Development Initiatives, the Niger Delta Democratic Initiatives, and the Arewa Youth Parliament, have publicly condemned what they term a "campaign of calumny" orchestrated by elements within the political elite.

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We condemn this recent development in totality as it threatens the existence of our democracy.

Their primary concern is the potential erosion of public confidence in Nigeria's electoral system. The civil society organizations argue that such sustained personal attacks on the INEC chairman not only undermine institutional integrity but also threaten the credibility of future elections, a cornerstone of our democracy. They have unequivocally passed a vote of confidence in Professor Amupitan, commending his leadership and his commitment to implementing reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

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His commitment to upholding the rule of law reflects a deep regard for constitutionalism and democratic governance.

Highlighting Professor Amupitan's strong adherence to the rule of law, the coalition pointed to his compliance with court rulings in sensitive political matters, including the internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress. This, they stated, reflects a deep respect for constitutionalism and democratic governance. Furthermore, his distinguished academic and professional background as a seasoned legal scholar, former Head of Public Law, Dean of Law, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Jos, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, lends significant weight to his leadership at INEC.

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We urge Nigerians to remain steadfast in supporting institutional reforms and resist distractions from agents of misinformation.

In their statement, the civil society groups implored Nigerians to stand firm in their support for democratic institutions and to actively resist misinformation and politically motivated attacks. They emphasized the critical juncture at which Nigeria's democracy finds itself, stressing the imperative to prioritize national interest, uphold truth, and back credible leadership dedicated to fairness, justice, and electoral excellence. The call is for collective vigilance to safeguard the integrity of our electoral umpire and the democratic journey ahead, especially with the 2027 general polls on the horizon.

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At this critical moment in our democratic journey, it is imperative to prioritise national interest, uphold truth, and support credible leadership committed to fairness, justice, and electoral excellence.