Civil society organisations have warned that continued attacks on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, can erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and undermine the credibility of future elections.
The CSOs stated this during a world press conference convened by the Humanities Welfare and Social Development Initiatives in collaboration with a coalition of civil society organisations, where the groups condemned what they described as a “campaign of calumny” by sections of the political elite against the INEC boss.
This was made known through a statement released on Friday and signed by the National Convener of HUWESDI, Felix Attah, alongside other civil society stakeholders, namely Kennedy Tabuko (Niger Delta Democratic Initiatives), Usman Kankia (Arewa Youth Parliament), Akinnawo Oluwaseun (Initiative for African Youth Advancement Advocacy and Empowerment), and Shuaibu Abdulkadir (Nigeria Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative).
“We condemn this recent development in totality as it threatens the existence of our democracy,” the coalition said, warning that persistent personal attacks on the electoral umpire could weaken institutional integrity and public trust.
The groups passed a vote of confidence in Amupitan, commending his leadership and ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening electoral transparency and accountability.
They particularly pointed to his adherence to the rule of law, noting his compliance with court rulings in politically sensitive matters, including the ongoing crisis within the African Democratic Congress.
“His commitment to upholding the rule of law reflects a deep regard for constitutionalism and democratic governance,” the statement noted.
