Amupitan to “Court-Elected” Politicians: Not Under My Watch!

…New INEC chairman insists elections must be decided by voters , not courts

By Franklin Adole
The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has declared his determination to end the era of elections being decided in courtrooms rather than at the ballot box.

Speaking at the 56th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), held at the University of Abuja on Monday, Amupitan said the outcome of elections in Nigeria must henceforth reflect the will of the people expressed at polling units, not judicial verdicts.

“We cannot continue to allow the courts to determine our elections. Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” the INEC boss stated firmly, drawing applause from participants.

Amupitan, who assumed office earlier this month following his confirmation by the Senate, said one of his key priorities would be to curb the rising tide of pre-election and post-election litigations that have come to characterize Nigeria’s electoral process. He described the situation as a major burden on the credibility and efficiency of the nation’s democracy.

According to him, much of the litigation stems from internal party disputes and disregard for due process in the conduct of primaries and candidate selections. He therefore charged political parties to embark on meaningful reforms to align their internal operations with constitutional and legal provisions.

“If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act, and align with the Nigerian Constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chairman also called on the National Assembly to strengthen the legal framework for elections to ensure greater transparency and reduce opportunities for manipulation. “We need stronger legislation that promotes fairness and credibility. My goal is to make the law an instrument of change, not chaos,” he added.

Amupitan expressed optimism that with the right legal and institutional reforms, Nigeria could reach a point where electoral outcomes are universally accepted. “My desire is that when we get the law right, even the losers will be the first to congratulate the winner. That is when our democracy can be said to have matured,” he said.

Analysts view Amupitan’s remarks as a strong signal of his commitment to electoral integrity and a departure from the controversies that have trailed recent elections decided largely through the judiciary. Observers say his emphasis on political party discipline and legislative reforms suggests a proactive approach to addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s electoral challenges.

Informed sources within INEC noted that Amupitan is already considering new policy measures to streamline party primaries and strengthen oversight mechanisms, ensuring that disputes are resolved internally before escalating to the courts.