The Labour Party has called on the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to place Nigerians’ interests at the forefront of his work. In a statement, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, highlighted the significance of Prof. Amupitan’s appointment, noting that he can either restore the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy or repeat the perceived shortcomings of his predecessor, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood.
Akeni stressed that Prof. Amupitan’s tenure will be examined by more than 230 million Nigerians and by the international community, which looks to Nigeria as a model of democratic governance in Africa. Accordingly, the Labour Party urged Prof. Amupitan to demonstrate his commitment to the nation by removing the names of Julius Abure and his defunct council members from INEC’s portal and replacing them with the Nenadi Usman‑led council, which has been recognised by the party’s statutory National Executive Council and validated by the Supreme Court. The party argues that this step is essential to comply with Nigeria’s administrative conventions and global standards that prohibit leadership vacuums in institutional management.
The Labour Party views this action as a crucial litmus test of Prof. Amupitan’s willingness to serve the nation and uphold democratic principles. By taking it, he can show his independence and dedication to the electoral process, setting a positive tone for his tenure as INEC Chairman.
As Prof. Amupitan assumes his new role, he will face intense scrutiny from Nigerians and the international community, both eager to see how he navigates the complexities of Nigeria’s electoral landscape. The success of his tenure will depend on his ability to balance competing stakeholder interests while preserving the integrity of the electoral process. With the world’s eyes on him, Prof. Amupitan’s actions will have far‑reaching implications for the future of Nigeria’s democracy and its reputation as a model for democratic governance in Africa.
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