The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has expressed full support for President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Prof. Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party’s Secretary-General, Comrade Oginni Olaposi Sunday, made this known while speaking on the controversies that often trail appointments into the nation’s electoral body.
It will be recalled that the National Council of State recently approved the appointment of Prof. Amupitan to succeed Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu as INEC Chairman, pending confirmation by the National Assembly.
Oginni, in his remarks, urged the incoming electoral chief to “hit the ground running,” noting that his first assignment should be to restore public confidence in the Commission.
“The first task for Amupitan is to change the battered image of INEC and return the trust of Nigerians to the umpire,” Oginni stated. “INEC’s reputation has been so eroded over the years that the new chairman must fight systemic corruption, correct inherited wrongs, and rebuild confidence in the institution.”
The NNPP chieftain advised Prof. Amupitan to thoroughly review the Commission’s operations, address lingering issues allegedly ignored by his predecessor, and make “appropriate recommendations to the President on who should stay or leave, for sanity to prevail.”
According to Oginni, President Tinubu’s decision to nominate Amupitan shows his administration’s resolve to reform critical institutions and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
“The President and members of the Federal Executive Council must have seen Amupitan’s capacity before nominating him. What Nigeria needs now are leaders who can take bold and informed decisions to rebuild the nation,” he said.
Reflecting on NNPP’s past experiences with INEC, Oginni criticized the former leadership of the Commission for alleged disregard of court orders regarding the party’s internal leadership crisis.
He accused the previous INEC administration of “ignoring valid court judgments” and failing to upload the party’s duly recognized national executive committee, describing the move as “a shocker and a shame to constitutional democracy.”
“It is disturbing that INEC, under Mahmoud Yakubu, disregarded court orders and even went as far as fraudulently changing the NNPP’s logo and colour without consulting the founding members or verifying the party’s original certificate of registration,” Oginni alleged.
He described such actions as “reckless, corruptly fraudulent, and a total abuse of institutional power,” warning that they undermined public trust in the electoral system.
The NNPP Secretary-General further urged the Acting INEC Chairman to address all pending cases of disobedience to court rulings before Prof. Amupitan formally assumes office.
“Amupitan has a choice to follow the path of past INEC chairmen or to write his name in gold. We hope he will choose integrity, transparency, and reform,” Oginni said.
He concluded by assuring that the NNPP would support the new INEC leadership in restoring credibility to Nigeria’s electoral process.
“We shall join President Tinubu and all well-meaning Nigerians in giving the new chairman maximum support. Our prayer is that he remains focused and undistracted in carrying out his duties,” he added.
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