While the ruling APC expressed full confidence in the merit-based appointment of Prof. Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman, opposition parties issued cautious warnings, urging him to prioritize loyalty to the Nigerian people over political interests and to undertake deep electoral reforms to restore public trust.
ABUJA — The appointment of Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has drawn a mixed response from Nigeria’s political parties, setting the stage for a closely watched tenure.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) lauded the appointment, expressing full confidence in Amupitan’s ability to uphold integrity. APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated, “We expect that he is going to be just. He has been chosen on merit, and he will play by the book.” The party expects him to add value to existing electoral reforms and bolster public confidence in INEC’s impartiality.
In contrast, opposition parties struck a more cautious tone, setting a clear agenda for the new chairman. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) urged Amupitan to place his loyalty with the citizenry. ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated, “He must understand that his loyalty is with the Nigerian people, not the government.”
Echoing this sentiment, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for internal cleansing and comprehensive reforms. The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, through his aide Dr. Yunusa Tanko, advised, “The agenda we are setting for him is to start his tenure with electoral reform,” while warning him not to be intimidated by presidential influence.
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) added that Amupitan must learn from the controversies of the 2023 polls and quickly establish an agenda for free and fair elections. Despite the scrutiny, most parties expressed a willingness to extend him the benefit of the doubt, acknowledging the heavy burden of restoring faith in Nigeria’s electoral process.