Arewa, Ohanaeze Youth Groups Back INEC Chair, Fault UK Protesters Over Sack Call

DThe Arewa Youths Forum and Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Youth Movement have expressed strong support for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, passing a vote of confidence on his leadership and rejecting calls for his removal by some Nigerians based in the United Kingdom.

The groups, in a joint statement made available to LEADERSHIP on Monday and signed by Anderson Achilike, said the recent protest held at the UK Parliament demanding Amupitan’s resignation was “premature, misinformed, and not reflective of the broader national interest.”

UK-based protesters had called for the removal of the INEC chairman, accusing him of alleged partisanship and claiming ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They also demanded the appointment of a “non-partisan” successor ahead of the 2027 general election.

Butm the youth groups dismissed the allegations, insisting they were unsubstantiated and urging Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora to allow the INEC chairman to focus on his constitutional responsibilities without undue political pressure.

“Prof. Amupitan has not taken any action since his appointment that justifies the level of suspicion and opposition being orchestrated in some quarters. We believe in the sanctity of due process and the need to judge public officials based on performance, not speculation,” the statement read.

The groups further stressed that the credibility of the 2027 general election would depend on institutional independence, collective responsibility, and strict adherence to the rule of law, rather than what they described as “campaigns of distrust.”

They also called on political stakeholders and civic actors to support INEC in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process, warning that sustained attacks on institutions could undermine democratic progress.

“We urge all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation or location, to prioritise national stability and democratic growth. The focus should be on supporting institutions to succeed, not undermining them through premature calls for removal,” the statement added.

The development comes amid growing debate over the leadership of INEC, following recent controversies including the electoral body’s decision to derecognise certain leadership claims within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after a court order. Prof. Amupitan has also faced accusations of alleged political bias linked to purported social media posts said to support the APC during the 2023 elections.

LEADERSHIP reports that INEC had denied the allegations, describing the claims as fake, saying it has launched a probe in collaboration with security agencies.