(DDM) – The Organisation of Igbo Communities (OIC) has called for urgent electoral reforms as the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), declared that elections in Nigeria must be won at the polling units and not in courtrooms.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Amupitan made this known at the INEC headquarters in Abuja shortly after assuming office, stressing that the commission would no longer allow the judiciary to determine electoral outcomes.
According to him, “The courts cannot continue to decide who wins elections in Nigeria. Elections must be won at the polling units. We will strengthen every stage of the process, from voter registration to result transmission, to ensure every vote counts.”
He pledged that INEC under his leadership would introduce transparency-driven reforms to rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
Meanwhile, the Organisation of Igbo Communities (OIC) has congratulated Professor Amupitan on his appointment and urged him to turn his promises into tangible results.
In a statement issued by the OIC President, Hon. Major Ukason Chukwuemeka, and obtained by DDM, the group cautioned the new INEC leadership against making promises it cannot keep, noting that Nigerians have grown weary of repeated assurances without delivery.
According to Hon. Chukwuemeka, “Nigerians are tired of INEC’s empty promises. The former chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, assured the nation of real-time transmission of results, but he failed Nigerians in the end. We want real reform, not rhetoric.”
He emphasized that OIC believes credible elections are essential for restoring good governance, justice, and equity across Nigeria.
DDM reports that Amupitan’s appointment comes amid widespread public distrust following controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections and growing calls for a transparent and technologically reliable electoral system.
Political observers and civil rights groups have commended Amupitan’s bold position, describing it as a potential turning point in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, if matched with concrete action.
As the nation looks ahead to the next election cycle, the spotlight remains firmly on INEC’s new leadership to prove that the era of courtroom victories and flawed elections is over, and that the power to decide Nigeria’s future truly lies in the hands of the voters.
