The Labour Party (LP) has called on the newly appointed National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), to prioritize the interests of Nigerians in his new role.
Interim National Publicity Secretary Tony Akeni issued the statement Friday in Abuja, noting that Amupitan has a “fate larger than life thrust at his feet” and an opportunity to either strengthen or weaken Nigeria’s democratic processes.
Akeni warned that the new INEC chairman faces a choice between serving the Nigerian populace or fulfilling the interests of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who appointed him. He emphasized that Amupitan’s legacy will be defined by this decision.
“He must choose whether to be honoured by more than 230 million Nigerians who elected leaders through democratic processes or to serve the unconstitutional wishes of a single individual,” Akeni said.
The LP highlighted that one of Amupitan’s first tests will be to update INEC’s portal to reflect the Nenadi Usman-led executive council of the party, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling that party leadership is determined internally.
Akeni described this step as crucial for aligning INEC with both Nigerian and international administrative standards, which discourage leadership vacuums in institutional management.
The party also called on Amupitan to remove all traces of the former council led by Julius Abure, whose leadership is now considered defunct, to ensure compliance with the court’s directive.
According to the LP spokesman, these initial actions will demonstrate Amupitan’s commitment to upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Akeni added that the new INEC chairman’s performance will be closely observed not only by Nigerians but also by the international community, including Western and emerging democracies, which look to Nigeria as a benchmark for democratic governance.
The Labour Party stressed that Amupitan’s choices in the early stages of his tenure will shape his legacy and Nigeria’s democratic reputation domestically and globally.
