These days once I wake up and commune with my creator and then turn to the social media or the traditional media to know what is trending, I am inundated with the Chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan explaining one wahala or the other. Somehow, it has become a past time, which I relish, at least, it helps distract me from the everyday senseless and avoidable killings around us.
As usual, I woke up today, and thanked God for the privilege to see the dawn of a new day and after the usuals, I rush to check what is in the news, bam, the INEC Chair is in the news and trust the media, true to type, Prof Amupitan was expalining another avoidable wahala.
Professor Joash Amupitan began “I want to address a recent claim circulating that I am affiliated with or working for the ruling party, All Progressives Congress,” .
He insisted “Let me state this clearly and without ambiguity — I am not a member of APC, nor do I work for or represent the party in any capacity”
This one is shaking the Prof like when an electric fish shocks you that he has to rush out to explain because many are calling for his resignation as there are growing evidences,allegedly, that he may be sympathetic to APC, even if not a card carrying mamber of the ruling party.
You are tempted to ask does it make any difference in our clime ?.After all, many surprisingly argue”who is not sympathetic to a party in Nigeria of today”? They however forget that some responsibilities behove on you to demonstrate utmost level of neutrality or at best mask your sentiments.
Somehow, i feel for him, though some others would have acted otherwise, because i cannot expect him to resign since it is not in our DNA. Moreover given that INEC Chairmanship is passport and visa to all the goodies of life, minus, long life, if you decide to play the dirty game.
This INEC Chairman has spent more time explaining one problem or the other,than advancing the fronties for credible and transparent elections come 2027. One is also tempted to say, these problems though avoidable,were regrettably created by the Commission.
At times, it is advised to let sleeping dogs lie, and never be too confident of what you can do without conceding any ink of knowledge to what the reaction of the other person will be. Since coming on board it had been one problem to the other, explaining one decision or the other.
Amupitan is still explaining whetehr his X handle was hacked or not, and if it was hacked did he report to any security agency given his high profile before joining INEC?
He is still explaining whther he is an APC sympathizer or apologist or a true unbiased abiter.
The allegation by former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung is still hanging on his head like the sword of damocles, and he is still explaining.
He is still explaining what Status quo ante bellum means even as a constitutional law professor .
What of removing David Mark led NWC of ADC from INEC portal is still hovering with the INEC Chair still explaining.
Did I forget the allegation of copying a press statement from a presidential media aide, which he is still explaining.
This INEC Chair may spend the whole time between now and the elections starting in January 2027 explaining one wahala or the other.
While I feel for him, on the other hand many feel,he pressed the self destruct button, underrated Nigerians and forgot he had always hidden himself in the lecture rooms, never heard as an activist like the likes of Prof Attahiru Jega.
Ironically, all these issues have rocked him like “kilode” and you can take it to the bank he had never imagined this job will be this rough and tough, especially if you don’t stand as your own man.
As we say in local parlance”you will explain tire” what again is he likely to expalin in the coming days.Add yours please.
In the emantime, there are insinuations that the embattled INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, is reportedly planning to update the names of David Mark’s NWC on the INEC portal in an attempt to distract Nigerians from the growing calls for his resignation.
It is now obvious, critics say, that the embattled INEC Chairman is an APC card-carrying member and a staunch supporter of President Tinubu. Any such move would therefore be seen as part of a plan to secure his continued stay in office.
The ADC stated that developments of this nature only deepen public concern about the neutrality, transparency, and credibility of the electoral process.
According to the party, any action by INEC that appears politically timed or improperly motivated will naturally attract scrutiny from Nigerians who expect the commission to act strictly within the law and above partisan suspicion.
The party also noted that the present moment demands calm, openness, and institutional integrity from all democratic actors.
ADC urged INEC to avoid any step that could be interpreted as an attempt to manage perception rather than address the substantive issues that have generated public debate.
It said trust in electoral institutions is too important to be undermined by avoidable controversy.
ADC further maintained that its growth and expanding national presence cannot be ignored, pointing to the increasing level of public attention around its activities and internal processes. The party said this moment reflects the wider interest many Nigerians now have in alternative political platforms, and called on its members to remain focused, lawful, and committed to democratic engagement.
