Politics
New INEC Chairman Amupitan, Gives Update On Where Election Result Will Be Decided
The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has vowed to end the growing trend of elections being decided in courtrooms instead of at the polling units.
Speaking just a week after his swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu, the INEC boss said his leadership will ensure that electoral victories are determined by voters, not by judges.
“Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” he declared.
Prof. Amupitan made the statement on Monday while addressing participants at the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) held at the University of Abuja.
He emphasized that sustainable reform must start from the political parties, noting that most pre-election cases arise from internal party conflicts and disregard for their constitutions.
“If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act, and align with the Nigerian Constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse,” Amupitan said.
The electoral chief stated that his vision is to make the law an instrument of order and fairness.
“My desire is that when we get the law right, even the losers will be the first to congratulate the winner. That is when our democracy can be said to have matured,” he added.
Amupitan also called on the National Assembly to strengthen existing electoral laws to promote transparency, party discipline, and public confidence in the electoral process.
He admitted that not everyone would be pleased with the coming reforms, but stressed that restoring integrity to elections is more important than convenience.
“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections,” he said firmly. “Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom.”
Addressing law teachers, jurists, and students at the event, the INEC Chairman urged them to view the law as a tool for justice and national development, not as a means of personal enrichment.
“As law teachers, we must lead by example — building a generation that values integrity over influence and justice over convenience,” he stated.
Prof. Amupitan attended the event alongside his wife, Prof. Yemisi Amupitan, a respected academic and member of the NALT Board of Trustees.
Meanwhile, this development comes as expectations rise for electoral reforms under Amupitan’s leadership, particularly ahead of upcoming off-cycle governorship elections.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has voided and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court which ordered the proscription of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Accord Party and three others.
The appellate court in a judgment on Tuesday held that the Forum of Former Legislators, which filed the deregistration suit have no locus standi to have instituted the matter.
The Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu was consequently voided, set aside and thrown out.
In the unambiguous judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Abba Bello, a penalty of N1 million was awarded against the former legislators that filed the case.
More details later…
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been appointed as one of the co-chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
The ruling party announced that the campaign council will be inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday as part of preparations for the off-cycle governorship election.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, will chair the council, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas will serve as co-chairmen.
The APC also appointed Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Political and Other Matters, as deputy chairman of the council, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin will serve as secretary.
According to the party, specialised committees have also been created to oversee campaign planning, finance, grassroots mobilisation, logistics, media, security, youth and women’s mobilisation, persons with disabilities, protocol, monitoring, and secretariat duties as campaigns gather pace ahead of the election.Government
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dismissed reports linking him with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that he remains fully committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.APC party information
The governor reacted after photographs of him with the ADC’s Ondo Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, surfaced online following a church service at the Government House Chapel in Akure on Sunday.
The images, which also showed some of Akinyelure’s supporters and other personalities from Idanre, led to speculation that Aiyedatiwa was building political ties with members of the opposition.
Responding through a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor described the reports as “false, misleading and deliberately mischievous,” accusing those behind them of trying to create division within the APC.
Aiyedatiwa explained that the Government House Chapel, like the mosque within the Government House complex, is a public place of worship open to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
“The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders and public officials who wish to worship. It is not an APC-only facility. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand the purpose of Government House as the house of all the people of Ondo State,” the statement said.
The governor clarified that Senator Ayo Akinyelure attended the church service to worship and also used the opportunity to appreciate him for sending representatives and a goodwill message to his 70th birthday celebration held last week.
According to the statement, “Senator Akinyelure was at the Government House Chapel to worship and to personally thank His Excellency for sending representation and a goodwill message on the occasion of his 70th birthday last week. This is a normal act of courtesy, decorum and respect that transcends party lines.”
The statement further pointed out that Senator Ayo Akinyelure is the younger brother of Chief Pius Akinyelure, a prominent APC leader, ally of President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council in Ondo State.APC party information
Rejecting claims of any political understanding with the ADC, the governor stressed that the meeting should not be interpreted as an alliance with the opposition.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to the APC and all its candidates. The Governor will work with all party structures to ensure that APC wins all elections in Ondo State,” the statement added.
The governor urged APC members and residents of the state to ignore what he described as attempts by political opponents to sow confusion within the ruling party, maintaining that his administration remains focused on governance rather than political distractions.Leadership development programs
“The Governor remains focused. The APC remains strong. And Ondo State will continue to progress,” the statement concluded.
The clarification comes amid political tension within the Ondo APC following the party’s recent primary elections and growing speculation over the rivalry between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
It is reported that the outcome of the recent primary election favoured allies of Tunji-Ojo over Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists, fuelling speculation of growing political tension between the two leaders
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