A senior fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, accused INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan of partisanship during an appearance on Arise Television’s *Prime Time* on Monday. Ibrahim, who also chairs the Premium Times Editorial Board, argued that despite Amupitan’s relatively short tenure, there is already substantial evidence of partisan conduct.
He pointed to the chairman’s intervention against the main opposition party, which Ibrahim said lacked a legal basis acceptable to most senior lawyers in the country. “This indicates we have a partisan person who has come to do the job of his master,” Ibrahim said, adding that Amupitan had expressed partisan opinions in the last election and displayed that partisanship openly on X.
According to Ibrahim, Amupitan’s actions in a brief period have raised concerns about the neutrality of the electoral commission at a critical juncture for Nigeria’s democracy. The accusations come amid heightened political tensions and increased scrutiny of electoral bodies ahead of future elections. Observers warn that perceived partisanship within INEC could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and fuel disputes over outcomes.
Amupitan has not publicly responded to the allegations. The controversy underscores ongoing debates about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral institutions and the need for transparency and impartiality in managing the country’s democratic processes.
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