The Arewa Youth Alliance for Religious Harmony has rejected calls for the sack or resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan alleging that those pushing the campaign are “people afraid of free, fair and credible elections.”
The group stated its position during a press conference at the Arewa House, Kaduna, where it described the demand for Amupitan ’s removal as “ill-advised” and an attempt to politicise an academic opinion he expressed years ago during his career as a university lecturer.
Reading the statement, the chairman of the group, Elder Joseph Fain Chori, said the North was grappling with serious challenges that required unity, warning against actions capable of deepening ethnic or religious divisions.
“It is disheartening to witness elements within our fold spearheading a campaign that is needlessly divisive. We must not allow personal grievances to be clothed in ethnic or religious sentiments,” he said.
Chori argued that instead of targeting the INEC chairman, Nigerians should strengthen institutions that promote electoral integrity.
He commended ProfAmupitan and his team for what he described as the “credible and transparent” conduct of the recently concluded Anambra governorship election.
He noted that the poll, which produced the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rather than the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), demonstrated that elections in Nigeria can still be competitive and reflective of the people’s choices.
“The outcome has boosted the morale of opposition parties and dispelled fears that Nigeria was drifting into a one-party system,” he said.
According to the alliance, removing Amupitan after supervising an election widely regarded as free and fair would be “counter-productive” and contrary to the principles of justice and democratic progress.
The group urged northern leaders and Nigerians across the country to rally behind INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections to ensure the commission remains independent, focused and free from undue political pressure.
Co-chairman of the alliance, Comrade Abbas Mohammed Aminu, also pledged the support of northern youths for the INEC chairman as he works to deliver credible polls in 2027.
He said the “few voices” calling for Amupitan ’s removal do not represent the majority opinion in the North.
