The Inter-Party Advisory Council, in Lagos State has congratulated the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), and called on him to take bold steps to restore public confidence in the nation’s electoral system.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Friday, IPAC Secretary and Lagos State Chairperson of the Action People’s Party, Mrs. Abiola Adeyemi, said Amupitan’s appointment offers a fresh opportunity to strengthen electoral integrity and promote transparency in the conduct of elections across the country.
According to her, many Nigerians have lost faith in the electoral process, resulting in widespread voter apathy.
*We expect the newly appointed INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to champion and strengthen electoral reforms. The process must be transparent, and election results should reflect the will of the people,” Adeyemi said.
She noted that one of the greatest challenges before the new INEC helmsman is rebuilding public trust in the commission, urging him to adopt innovative measures that will guarantee credible outcomes.
“The biggest task before him is the restoration of public confidence in the electoral process because this confidence is long gone.
“He must implement radical transparency and ensure that the electronic transmission of results from polling units works seamlessly,” she added.
Adeyemi further advised Amupitan to consolidate the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and other technological tools to eliminate electoral manipulation and ensure fairness.
“He should ensure that INEC remains independent and free from partisan interference. This is vital to deliver credible, transparent, and fair elections that will deepen Nigeria’s democracy,” she emphasized.
The IPAC scribe also urged the new INEC Chairman to tackle vote-buying and selling, which she described as a persistent menace undermining the credibility of elections.
“Nigerians want an electoral system where they can aspire, contest, and vote without fear or intimidation. Electoral reforms that guarantee fairness are key to achieving this,” Adeyemi said.
President Bola Tinubu had on Thursday appointed Professor Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and professor of law, as the new Chairman of INEC.
His appointment, which has been ratified by the National Council of State, follows the completion of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s two-term tenure as the electoral umpire’s head since November 2015.
