Opposition Lawmakers Endorse Prof. Joash Amupitan’s Appointment as INEC Chairman, Urge Him Not to Fail Nigerians

Opposition Lawmakers have endorsed Prof. Joash Amupitan’s appointment as INEC Chairman and urged him not to fail Nigerians.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition has thrown its weight behind the nomination of Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling on him to uphold integrity, champion electoral reforms, and “write his name in gold.”

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), the coalition commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Amupitan, describing the nominee as a man of impeccable academic and professional credentials.

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“We welcome the appointment of Prof. Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman because, looking at his background in academic excellence and legal practice, he comes highly recommended. He can’t fail. He has been a lecturer, Pro-Chancellor, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” Ugochinyere said.

The lawmakers urged Amupitan to place national interest above political considerations, noting that his wealth of experience as a lawyer and scholar positions him to drive far-reaching electoral reforms once confirmed.

“We now have an INEC chairman who understands the difficulty of proving election petitions, the loopholes in the system, and how to close them. He has taught it in classrooms, practised it in court, and is now going to execute it in office. He has no reason to fail,” the statement added.

The coalition also praised Amupitan’s clean public record, stating that he had no known history of misconduct or partisan bias.

“If there was anything questionable about his past, we would have raised objections. Let us judge him by his track record and allow him to prove himself through his actions and decisions,” the lawmakers said.

They stressed that the forthcoming Anambra and Osun governorship elections would serve as litmus tests for Amupitan’s capacity to lead INEC with fairness and transparency.

“These elections will show whether he can deliver credible polls. We believe he has every reason to succeed and no reason to fail because he possesses the professional depth to reform the process,” Ugochinyere stated.

The coalition reaffirmed its support for Amupitan’s appointment, pledging cooperation as long as he upholds the law and maintains INEC’s independence.

“We welcome his appointment and support him as long as he administers INEC in full compliance with the provisions of the law,” the statement concluded.