Joemartins Uzodike, a senior member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has demanded the resignation of Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that he has already failed Nigerians even before conducting any elections.
Uzodike, a lawyer, criticized INEC’s withdrawal of recognition from the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, describing Amupitan’s statements on the issue as “disgraceful and mischievous.”
He accused INEC of misinterpreting a court order under Amupitan’s leadership, despite the chairman being a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Uzodike claimed the Commission relied on a court order submitted by an individual, ignoring established legal principles such as status quo ante bellum, which mandates that positions remain as they were before a court dispute.
“The INEC chairman has brought serious embarrassment to the legal system by using a court order to create a leadership vacuum in an opposition party,” Uzodike said. He also questioned INEC’s recognition of Nafiu Bala as a faction leader, pointing out that Bala lacks both a secretary and a formal executive committee.
Uzodike added:
“I have participated in elections since independence, and I have never seen an electoral umpire intervene so brazenly. A Professor of Law and SAN should know that status quo ante bellum means restoring the previous leadership. Yet, INEC is claiming the ADC does not exist.”
He further accused Amupitan of acting under external pressures, noting that his demeanor during a television interview suggested a lack of independence. Uzodike urged the INEC chairman to focus on strengthening Nigeria’s democracy rather than serving vested interests.
“Having served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, a professor, and a SAN, he should act with honour. His failure demonstrates he is unfit to oversee Nigeria’s elections,” Uzodike concluded.
