Over 1,000 Lawyers Urge Senate to Disqualify Amupitan as INEC Chairman

Allege bias, conflict of interest over APC ties; threaten legal action if confirmed

By Politics Nigeria

A coalition of over 1,000 lawyers under the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has called on the National Assembly to disqualify Professor Joash Amupitan from being confirmed as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a petition addressed to the Senate President through the Committee on Electoral Matters, the group, made up of legal practitioners working within and outside the National Assembly, alleged that Amupitan’s involvement with the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election creates a clear conflict of interest and undermines the independence of the electoral body.

According to ALDRAP, Amupitan’s previous role as Lead Counsel to the APC in the 2023 Presidential Election Petition before the Supreme Court of Nigeria contravenes Section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and Section 19 of the ICPC Act, both of which address issues of conflict of interest and public trust.

> “Professor Joash Amupitan, as a former Legal Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court, is automatically disqualified from holding the position of Chairman of INEC,” the letter read in part.

The lawyers further urged the Senate not to proceed with deliberations on President Bola Tinubu’s expected request for Amupitan’s confirmation, describing such a move as “a step backward for democracy and the rule of law.”

They recalled a similar instance in 2021, when the Senate rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as an INEC Commissioner over her partisan affiliation with the APC, insisting that the same principle of neutrality should apply in the present case.

> “The Senate set a commendable precedent in 2021 by rejecting Lauretta Onochie for her political affiliation. The same standard should apply now to preserve the integrity and independence of INEC,” the association stated.

ALDRAP also emphasized that there are thousands of qualified legal professionals in Nigeria who are not affiliated with any political party and therefore would be better suited for the role.

> “Nigeria has over 200,000 lawyers, out of which no fewer than 100,000 have no political ties. The President and the National Council of State can easily select a neutral candidate to lead INEC without raising concerns about bias,” the group added.

The association warned that confirming Amupitan would amount to rewarding partisanship and could expose the Senate to public backlash and legal challenge.

> “If the Senate proceeds with his confirmation, ALDRAP will have no choice but to initiate legal action to defend the sanctity and independence of INEC as enshrined in the Constitution,” the statement concluded.