Lagos, Nigeria: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party in Lagos State have advised the newly sworn-in Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), to rise as a democratic trailblazer — by upholding transparency, defending electoral integrity, and prioritising the people’s mandate.
They say his leadership could set a new standard for democratic accountability in the state.
Both parties advised on Thursday in Lagos, following the swearing-in of Amupitan as the new boss of Nigeria’s electoral body.
According to them, if Amupitan can adequately address lapses in the country’s electoral processes and ensure that votes count in elections, he will become a democracy superhero.
Both parties agreed that the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, tried his best, but it was just not enough.
Speaking, Mr Dele Oladeji, Accord State Chairman, said the new INEC boss needed to do better in electoral reform to ensure votes count during elections.
“We need improvements in the electoral law to create free and fair elections.
“There are still room for improvements, and INEC, under Amupitan, must consistently work on these ahead of 2027. People have lost hope in the electoral system due to many procedural lapses.
“For Amupitan to have impressive records and be a superhero in history, our election results must be credible.
“We don’t want any glitch; we must fully automate collation electronically to avoid the usual manipulations at collation centres.
“If there will be a change, Amupitan must be non-partisan, but can a man appointed by the President be free and truly independent? This is the big question ?” Oladeji said.
Speaking, the State PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Mr Hakeem Olalemi, who expressed doubt in Amupitan’s ability to be genuinely independent, said that the new INEC chairman should prove sceptics wrong and write his name in gold.
Olalemi claimed that specific influential individuals prevented the immediate past INEC boss, Yakubu, from actualising his dream of bringing integrity to the nation’s electoral system.
“Professor Yakubu, as a person, is an astute administrator, a good professor, but could not swim the rivers of Nigeria’s politics. We hope the new INEC chairman will be above board.
“Our electoral processes require more reforms and systemic changes to restore hope for many disenchanted people over perennial electoral flaws.
“Amupitan will make himself a superhero of democracy if he allows the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) to work 100 per cent.
“He will be a superhero if he ensures electronic transmission and collation of election results to limit human interferences and manipulations,” Olalemi said.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in Amupitan, SAN, as the new INEC chairman after taking the oath of office at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu charged Amupitan to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and electoral process, as well as strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC.
Amupitan’s swearing in by the President comes a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment as INEC Chairman, following a rigorous screening session on October 16.
The new Chairman, who resumed immediately at INEC headquarters, addressed the Commission’s staff, promising to deliver credible, free and fair elections.
