October 12, 2025
Council Of State Endorses Amupitan As New INEC Chairman

The Founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has thrown his weight behind the nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the choice as a step in the right direction.

Dr. Aniebonam made the remarks on Sunday in Lagos while reacting to debates surrounding the nomination of Amupitan, a respected legal scholar and professor of law, to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure recently ended.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier forwarded Amupitan’s name to the National Council of State, which endorsed the nomination on October 7, pending formal confirmation by the Senate.

Dr. Aniebonam stressed that the immediate priority for the incoming INEC leadership must be to rebuild public trust and restore the integrity of the commission, which he believes has suffered significant damage in recent years.

“The new chairman has his work cut out for him. Nigerians have lost confidence in INEC, and that perception must be reversed. The institution must be repositioned to reflect transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law,” he said.

Citing the NNPP’s previous encounter with the electoral body, Aniebonam expressed frustration over what he described as “willful disobedience to court orders” under the past INEC leadership.

“Our party faced an embarrassing situation when INEC failed to comply with court directives regarding our internal leadership. Such blatant disregard for judicial authority undermines democracy,” he said.

The NNPP founder accused some officials within the commission of colluding to alter the party’s official logo and symbols without the consent of its original trustees or submission of the party’s certificate of registration.

“It is a dangerous precedent when key features like a party’s identity can be changed without proper verification. If it could happen to us, it could happen to any political party,” Aniebonam warned.

He urged the incoming INEC boss to address such anomalies and ensure that court judgments affecting political parties are respected without delay or political interference.

“The new chairman must look into unresolved matters, including disobedience to legal orders. These are issues that threaten public faith in elections and governance,” he added.

Dr. Aniebonam also commended President Tinubu for taking what he called a “bold and strategic step” in nominating Amupitan, suggesting it reflected the President’s resolve to reform critical democratic institutions.

“The President and his cabinet must have seen something in Amupitan’s credentials. We believe this is a signal of readiness to correct the flaws in our electoral system,” he said.

He reiterated the NNPP’s willingness to collaborate with the new INEC leadership to strengthen electoral processes and uphold constitutional democracy.

“We are ready to work with the new INEC chairman. What matters now is ensuring that the commission is truly independent and no longer vulnerable to manipulation,” he concluded.

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