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As Joash Amupitan assumes office as the substantive chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a Labour Party (LP) faction has called on him to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and resist political interference.
The appointment, confirmed by the Senate on October 16, was part of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen the commission’s independence and ensure credible elections across the country.
Julius Abure, factional national chairman of the LP, congratulated Amupitan in a letter on Friday, describing him as a leader prepared to confront challenges and reinforce Nigeria’s democracy.
Abure urged the new INEC chairman to remain firm in his commitment to fairness, particularly amid the party’s ongoing leadership disputes, and to ensure that court rulings recognizing his leadership are implemented.
“I must say that you came prepared to face the challenges and to help secure our fragile democracy,” Abure said.
“Nigeria craves for an umpire who is apolitical and whose past has testimonies of love for the nation.
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“Nigerians need a strong-willed umpire who will place the nation first and who will not succumb to cheap blackmail and little tricks by politicians.”
The LP has been split into two factions, with Abure leading one group and Nenadi Usman heading the other as interim national chairperson. This division has created uncertainty within the party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections, with both sides asserting legitimacy and control over party activities.
Abure’s letter also emphasized the need for Amupitan to facilitate the inclusion of Labour Party candidates in the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, a request that had been previously raised with May Agbamuche-Mbu, the immediate past acting INEC chairperson.
He commended Agbamuche-Mbu for taking initial steps to address irregularities affecting the party but stressed that full compliance with court rulings is essential to restore order and fairness.
President Tinubu, during the swearing-in ceremony, charged Amupitan with protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s elections while reinforcing INEC’s institutional autonomy. The new chairman was vetted in a rigorous Senate screening process that assessed his knowledge of electoral management and reforms.
With his appointment, Amupitan faces the dual challenge of maintaining impartiality in the lead-up to upcoming elections while addressing long-standing disputes within opposition parties.
Labour Party leaders are urging him to use his authority to ensure compliance with the law, promote inclusion, and uphold the integrity of the democratic process.
The post LP faction urges new INEC Chairman to uphold impartiality amid party crisis appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
