A pressure group, Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN), has demanded for the resignation of the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, over alleged bias in the handling of issues relating to political parties, in conflict.
The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Aisha Bello, accused Amupitan, alleged interference in the internal affairs of the Social Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It argued that this runs counter to the neutrality of the electoral umpire.
OWN noted that “The Supreme Court has repeatedly reprimanded INEC for unwarranted meddling in the party’s internal leadership and nomination processes, describing such actions as a gross overreach of the Commission’s constitutional mandate.
“The PDP Internal Disputes: Conflicting recognitions of leadership groups and questionable invitations to meetings have fuelled perceptions of selective interference. OWN alleges these moves are strategically aimed at weakening opposition structures ahead of future electoral cycles.”
The group added that “opposition parties like the SDP, PDP, and others deserve to resolve their internal matters in accordance with their own constitutions, free from external dictation by INEC.
“The Chairman’s continued tenure under these circumstances is untenable and poses a clear and present danger to free and fair elections. Patriots must resist any attempt to weaponize state institutions against opposition voices. Nigeria’s democracy cannot afford an umpire perceived as playing for one side.”
