INEC Chairman Amupitan ‘Failed Woefully’ In FCT Elections, Nobody Can Trust Him To Organise Credible Elections In 2027 — Prof Odinkalu

Human rights activist and Professor of Law Chidi Odinkalu says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under its chairman Joash Amupitan, cannot be trusted to conduct credible elections in 2027.

Prof Odinkalu gave the verdict on Monday while appearing on Politics Today.

According to the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, the shortcomings recorded during the FCT council elections were not primarily legal issues but administrative failures.

“There’s nothing else to it; it is not about the law. It is about the failure of will, the failure of electoral administration,” he said.

The social media had been flooded with unverified photos and videos of ballot snatching, even by police officers, and altered election result sheets in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which won five out of the six council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Saturday.

 Odinkalu urged electoral officials to either prepare adequately for their responsibilities or step aside for others who are capable of doing the job.

Responding to suggestions that it may be too early to judge Amupitan, who assumed office late last year, Odinkalu said the INEC chairman had prior experience, having overseen a governorship election in Anambra State.

He also criticised INEC’s handling of election logistics in the nation’s capital, describing it as poorly coordinated. Odinkalu faulted the commission for reassigning voters to new polling units without proper notification on election day, a situation he said disenfranchised many eligible voters.

He challenged INEC to acknowledge its mistakes and apologise to Nigerians.

“Amupitan can tell Nigerians that ‘I take personal responsibility, this is a chastening experience. I am learning, some of these things I saw cannot happen on my watch.

“But to simply pretend as if these things did not happen and say this is the standard to which elections are organised will be irresponsible.

“A chairperson of INEC who is committed to credible elections would admit that there are failures that should never have happened on the watch of a credible electoral administrator and will say, ‘We will do something about it,’” he said.

Prof Odinkalu added that citizens, without partisan interests, should be involved in fixing the identified lapses.