Expedite Amupitan’s confirmation as INEC boss — NANS, Northern groups urge NASS

By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja

A conjugation of Northern younker organisations and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called connected the National Assembly to expedite the confirmation of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, arsenic Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The telephone was made astatine a associated property league successful Abuja connected Wednesday, addressed by Ambassador Aliyu Muhammed connected behalf of the Coalition of Northern Youth Organisations (CNYO), Arewa Youth Movement (AYM), Arewa Youth Congress (AYC), North Central Youth Council (NCYC), Northern Youth Council (NYC), Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA), and NANS.

According to the groups, their entreaty followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s information of Professor Amupitan, which was approved by the National Council of State past week. They described his assignment arsenic a measurement toward enhancing INEC’s independency and credibility.

“We, the undersigned Northern groups and NANS, explicit our enactment for Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, arsenic the recently appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Muhammed said.

The conjugation dismissed arsenic unfounded claims that Amupitan should beryllium disqualified due to the fact that of his past enactment arsenic pb counsel for respective governmental parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), astatine predetermination petition tribunals.

“We cull successful beardown presumption the claims of disqualification raised by immoderate individuals. These allegations are without ineligible merit,” Muhammed said.

The groups argued that the Nigerian Constitution does not prohibit ineligible practitioners who person represented governmental clients from holding nationalist office, including the presumption of INEC Chairman. They maintained that Amupitan’s nonrecreational acquisition successful instrumentality and governance equips him for the role.

“His wealthiness of acquisition and expertise marque him a susceptible and credible candidate. Lawyers service divers clients successful the people of their duties — that does not construe into governmental partisanship,” the conjugation stated.

They urged the National Assembly to corroborate Amupitan’s information without delay, informing that prolonged information could impact preparations for upcoming elections.

“We are assured that helium volition uphold the principles of fairness, justice, and impartiality arsenic enshrined successful the Constitution,” the groups added.

The conjugation besides cautioned against politicising the appointment, stressing that Amupitan’s grounds of professionalism and integrity speaks for itself.

They reaffirmed their assurance successful INEC’s ongoing reforms and called connected Nigerians to enactment efforts aimed astatine strengthening the country’s electoral institutions.

The station Expedite Amupitan’s confirmation arsenic INEC brag — NANS, Northern groups impulse NASS appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.